Richard Papen

John Richard Papen was born and raised in Plano, California. Papen is an only child, raised by middle class parents who operate a filling station. Papen's parents seem to tolerate Richard at best and throughout the book, the relationship becomes even more strained to the point where there is hardly any communication whatsoever. Even during breaks, Papen doesn't go home due to lack of money, a place to stay, and lack of interest on behalf of his parents, who had sold his furniture and converted his bedroom into a sewing room shortly after he moved to Vermont.

The story was supposedly written when Papen was 28 years old, many years after the series of events. During the time at Hampden College in Vermont, Papen is 20 years old and somewhat naïve to the ways of the world. It is through a desperate need that Papen decides to leave...