Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Edie Doyle and Father Barry

Even though Terry acts like Edie's saying lame things, he ends up agreeing with the things she's teaching him: you should feel like you're a part of everyone, and strive to fulfill compassion and justice towards your fellow humans. At first, he has a cynical dog-eat-dog life philosophy. But, thanks to Edie's good advice, he softens up—and also toughens up and shows serious guts.

Father Barry helps Terry too—frequently by yelling at him. He even punches Terry at one point (after Terry tells him "go to hell"). But this tough love, along with Father Barry's stirring speech about Christ and the crucifixion, helps Terry do three important things: he doesn't try to murder Johnny after Johnny kills his brother, he drags his butt into court and testifies against Johnny, and he gets up and inspires the other workers to follow him after Johnny beats him up. And that's thanks to Barry's encouragement. What else is a mentor for?