Vic Van Allen

Vic Van Allen is the main character of the novel. Because the third person narrator is limited to Vic’s consciousness throughout the novel, the narrative world is established and depicted via Vic’s distinct lens. Vic is 36 years old at the start of Deep Water. He is married to Melinda Van Allen, a wild and spirited young woman. Together, the two have a young daughter named Trixie. Although Melinda has had a string of extramarital affairs for the past three years, Vic makes no attempts to confront his wife or to stop her antics. Even when Vic’s closest friend, Horace Meller, repeatedly tells Vic that he should do something about Melinda’s embarrassing displays, Vic insists that Melinda is a free person. He believes that she should have the right to make her own decisions. At the same time, Melinda’s carefree infidelity has...