Romantic

Character Role Analysis

Cilla Lapham

Johnny and Cilla are betrothed at the beginning of the novel, and then that betrothal is broken after Johnny's accident. It takes Johnny quite some time to realize Cilla's true value, and "Will they or won't they?" is one of the frustratingly unanswered questions of the novel. We get the sense that they both want to but are too shy. Johnny does finally kiss Cilla before he leaves to find Rab and Doctor Warren, but we don't get a whole lot more explanation of their relationship.

Lavinia Lyte

Just like every other guy in Boston, Johnny's interested in Lavinia Lyte. She's definitely not interested in him, though. Her noted beauty and general meanness are pointedly contrasted to Cilla, and, at least in romantic terms, Lavinia Lyte serves more as a distraction from Cilla than anything else.