Character Analysis
Throw on some groovy tunes and put that paint smock on—Fay has been taking chill pills her whole life, and she's pretty much down with whatever life throws her. A handsome neighbor next door with a super-smart mouse? Bring it on. Impromptu love affairs are Fay's cup of tea. She wants to ballroom dance through life like she's on Dancing with the Stars.
Grade-A Hippie
Fay doesn't concern herself with material things, unless she needs money—she's all about painting beautiful things and embracing the now. "So damned attractive. So full of life and excitement," Charlie thinks to himself as he watches Fay waltz out the door (180). If Fay has a deeper side, it's of no interest to Charlie. She's all about keeping things light and sexy, but if there's anything we learn in Flowers, it's that everyone has a reason to keep up an act. Just because we never see behind the curtain doesn't mean that there's not some funky stuff back there.
But let's be real, Fay isn't too emotionally invested in her relationship with Charlie, either. Men go in and out through a revolving door in her life, and she keeps dancing through it all. Once Charlie loses his lighthearted approach to life, Fay loses Charlie, pronto.
At Least Alice Likes Her
Alice gives her approval for Charlie to continue dating Fay. Thanks, Alice, we're sure you're not being passive-aggressive at all:
I wanted to see her as a vile, stupid whore you'd gotten mixed up with, and I had big plans about coming between you and saving you from her in spite of yourself. (16.235)
But Fay's cheery nature and sense of humor save the day, and Alice thinks she's good for Charlie, if only because she takes his mind off the serious stuff. And if only she didn't feed him all that alcohol, Alice thinks she'd be the perfect girlfriend. Or maybe Fay is just really good at winning people over.