Jack Shaw

Jack Shaw is not the eldest of the Shaw children, but he is certainly the most outgoing. Prone to spunky displays of his own devil-may-care, Jack spends much of his youth throughout the novel as something of a troublemaker, and is regarded by his other siblings (and his classmates) as somewhat callous, unpredictable, and cruel. This cavalier attitude follows Jack into his adulthood, as he becomes a heavy drinker and frequently finds himself on bad terms with his wife, Camille.

Despite these shortcomings, though, Jack is possessed of a kind, empathetic, and fiercely protective side to his personality that often comes out when he feels his siblings are threatened. Even in his youth, for instance, he shows immense kindness to Bette and Henry in advance of the comedy routine they put on for Marie, a kindness so unusual that it makes Bette suspicious. Perhaps most significantly, Jack...