Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Simkin

Simkin is the guy who tells Herzog what he needs to hear… even when Herzog doesn't want to hear it. The truth is that Herzog has to make some tough decisions in his divorce with Madeleine, and Simkin (his lawyer) is always there to give him some straight talk.

To be fair, Simkin could probably be a bit nicer about the way he presents the truth. But as Saul Bellow tells us, Simkin deals in a tough world and could never have lasted as long as he has without being a tough guy himself.