Lucy

Lucy Barton is an older woman with grown children. She lives in New York and is an accomplished writer. She's remarried a man who understands her much better than her first husband, William did. However, for all of her success, she still harbors the deep psychological scars from growing up in an impoverished family, whose poverty also extended to their ability to openly express care and love for one another.

Much of Lucy's motivation stems from her desire to avoid loneliness ever again. Initially, anyone that showed her the tiniest bit of kindness she immediately latched onto, such as her third grade teacher, Mr. Hanley. When he stopped the children from making fun of her, he became her hero.

Later, this same sort of adulation came when the doctor at the hospital recognized her deep need for a connection with people. He took the time to visit with...