John Bickerson Bolling aka Jack aka Binx

John is the main character in the novel. He has a number of nicknames, although as a character, he does not seem affable enough to deserve the nicknames. Instead, the nicknames seem to be more like representations of the type of person the other characters wish he was. For example, his clients and Sharon will both call him Jack as the relaxed, yet educated financial investor. On the other hand, his friends and college mates refer to him as Binx which is a much more playful name. Hardly anyone calls him by his real name, John.

Like the nicknames, John does not seem fazed by what society wants from him. Rather than establish his own strong personality, he allows others to give him suggestions on what he should do. He makes half-hearted attempts to make Sharon fall in love with him or...