Importance of Glen?

Glen is the novel’s most consistent character. He serves as a foil to Bea’s capriciousness, counseling her through her conflicts with great compassion and care. Although he is the architect of the Wilderness experiment, he is not a creator or instigator of much else. He is not the biological father of Agnes nor does he father any children in the wilderness, as Madeline is a stillborn.

Glen’s selflessness ultimately leads to his solitude, for he does not want to hold anyone back. This means that when he becomes sick, he leaves the group to sleep alone, walks in the back, and even lets his girlfriend sleep with another man. However, he never loses his admiration for Bea. It is clear that his love for both Bea and Agnes is the guiding energy behind his character, a constant source of affection and validation for both of them. After a fall that destroys his leg, he tragically dies on a mountain with Bea by his side.