Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Monsignor Darcy

From the moment Amory meets Monsignor Darcy, he looks up to the guy as a mentor. Darcy is the first adult (other than his parents) whom Amory has ever spent a lot of time with. Better yet, Darcy is the first adult to respect Amory's opinions and to listen to him for long periods of time.

When Monsignor Darcy passes away toward the end of the book, it's pretty much the last straw for Amory's fragile mind. Without Darcy, he truly has no one to guide him through the difficulties of life. Amory ends the book feeling totally alone and aimless, and the loss of Darcy has a lot to do with it.