Richard Brown (Richie)

Richard's character is the link which ties the storylines together. At some point during the novel, the reader realizes that the eminent writer and winner of the Carrouthers Prize is the same little boy we see in the scenes with Laura Brown. As a child, Richie is depicted as an extremely sensitive little boy. His mother has very little understanding of this, and she often wonders why he overreacts to the smallest criticism. Laura Brown is not self-aware enough to realize that the boy is reacting, on a profound level, to her unhappy moods and increasing detachment from her family. At his tender age, Richie realizes, even before his mother realizes, that she intends to commit suicide. Richie is not merely aware of his mother's moods, he is deeply affected by them. He idolizes his mother, as little boys will, and takes on her worldview as...