Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Momma

Okay, so she's never really on the page, but there is one person who starts all of Dicey and her siblings' problems—and that's their mom. The moment she abandons them with little more than a few dollars and even fewer sandwiches, Dicey's forced onto center stage, taking on her family unit's well-being and struggling to survive. Without Momma, life's a whole lot different for our main girl.

Cousin Eunice

Cousin Eunice might be an antagonist, but she isn't a completely bad person. Sure, she's pretty darn self-centered and incapable of displaying affection, but she is willing to take the Tillermans in (even if it does ruin her life and make her sad). Yes, Eunice's home might not be perfect, but Dicey realizes that it would be better than nothing at all. 

Mr. Rudyard

There's not much else to say about this guy—he tries to kidnap the Tillermans, so he's pretty much pure evil. And unlike Cousin Eunice, he doesn't really have any redeeming qualities. We don't feel badly for him at all when Claire turns her whip on him. He pretty much represents all the danger out in the world, making it crystal clear that these kids need a safe home and quick.