Character Analysis
Shonny is Beatrice-Joanna's brother-in-law, and, unlike his wife Mavis, he's thrilled to hide his sister-in-law on their property. An agricultural officer like Tristram's brother George, Shonny is an idealistic embodiment of the rural English farmer: he loves his God, he loves his land, he loves his pig and chickens, and he loves his family. He bottles plum wine illegally and attends illegal Mass, and, despite the oppressiveness of the world around him, he's pretty sure that it's all going to work out fine.
When Dymphna and Llewelyn are murdered, Shonny suddenly looks a lot like the Old Testament Job, who loses his wife, his family, and all his possessions when God strikes a bet with the Devil. Like Job, Shonny is confused and angry, but he refuses to blame God for his misfortune. Unlike Job, Shonny doesn't get his life back when his trials are over. Instead, he ends up in a madhouse.