The action of the novel is set in New York City. The protagonist works
at a bakery in New York. From here he goes to evening classes at Beckman
College. When the novel begins, he is already thirty-two years old, but
does not remember anything of his home. Later, the readers are told that
his mother and sister still live in their old home in Brooklyn in Marks
Street, which is a poor neighborhood. His father Matt Gordon has long
since left his wife, and has a barbershop on Wentworth Street, a run-down
section of the Bronx. Thus, New York is the background against which the
action moves. Only one event, the Psychology convention takes place in
Chicago.
Charlie Gordon
He is a thirty two-year-old, mentally retarded adult, who is
living and working in New York. His life changes dramatically when he
undergoes an experimental operation to improve his intelligence. Charlie
is the protagonist as well as the narrator of the story.
Alice Kinnian
She is a teacher at the Beckman special school for retarded adults
where Charlie is a student. She suggests his name to the research team
of the psychology department, as a possible candidate for the experiment.
Charlie loves and depends on her, and she cares for him till the end of
the novel.
Fay Lillman
Charlie's unconventional neighbor is an artist. Reckless and
generous, she has an affair with Charlie, which ends when his mind begins
to regress.
Rose Gordon
Charlie's mother who appears mainly in Charlie's flashes of memory
that he has about his disturbed childhood. She initially denies his retarded
state and drives him to overcome it, but rejects him completely after
bearing a second normal child. She makes an appearance towards the end
of the novel, as a senile and still unhappy, obsessed woman.
Matt Gordon
Charlie's father, who represents the voice of kindness and sanity
in the family, but is too gentle to prevail over his dominant wife. He
finally sends Charlie away, fearing for his safety, and later walks out
on his wife and daughter.
Harold Nemur & Jay Strauss
They are neuro-surgeons and psychiatrists who are the senior
members of the research team, which experiments on Charlie. His feelings
for them change from respect and trust to suspicion and contempt after
the operation. Nemur is the more unsympathetic of the two.
Norma Gordon
Charlie's younger sister. She, like the parents, appears in the
scenes that Charlie remembers, until the end, when he visits his family
home. A spoiled and high-strung girl, she reflects her mother's attitudes.
The adult Norma is very different from the child.
Burt Selden
The laboratory assistant, who is a junior member of the team.
Initially seen as kind and patient, Charlie considers him a friend. Burt
however is too much a part of the team to be really committed to Charlie.
Mr. Donner
He is the owner of the bakery, where Charlie works. A kind, paternal
figure, he looks after Charlie and becomes his guardian after his uncle's
death.
Gimpy
A senior baker with a bad leg. He is sympathetic to Charlie's
problems and protects him from the others. Their friendship is affected
when he is found cheating Donner.
Frank Reilly & Joe Carp
Initially role models for Charlie, they represent the brutish
insensitive people for whom, anyone with a handicap is fair game.
Fanny Berdin
She is a woman worker who protects Charlie and suggests that,
he attend the special school. She has serious doubts about the changes
in Charlie and feels that they are dangerous.
Mrs. Mooney
Charlie's land lady. She feeds and looks after Charlie in his
regressive phase, when he has rejected all his other friends.
Ray Winslow & Thelma
He is the head psychologist and she is a housemother at the Warren
State Home for retarded people. Charlie regards the Home with dread, but
is comforted on meeting them. They are both sincere and dedicated people,
doing their difficult jobs in the best way they can.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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