Summary and Analysis of the Alienist by Worth Books

Author:Worth Books
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Worth Books
Published: 2017-04-17T17:31:39+00:00

Character Analysis

Japheth Dury a.k.a. John Beecham: The antagonist, Japheth/Beecham’s sinister character evolves from the hunter to the hunted. As clues and evidence come to light, the inhuman killer becomes human. His tortured soul, wounded by an unspeakable past, compels him to lash out at the most vulnerable in society. But it is also a cry for help, and that recognition is what allows the team to apprehend him.

Sara Howard: The heroine, Sara, is ahead of her time. Representing the feminist element in the story, she is unapologetically powerful and assertive, showing more grit and determination than all of her male counterparts combined. The text presents her as simply uninterested in the life of a typical female, only alluding to her sexuality. It’s no one’s business whom she loves.

Sergeant Lucius Isaacson: Like his brother, Lucius’s character is hyper-analytical and trustworthy, if a bit high-strung and anxious. Along with his brother, he provides many of the pieces to the story’s puzzle.

Sergeant Marcus Isaacson: Marcus’s character is one of modesty and self-confidence. He demonstrates a strong work ethic that shows the value of steady and deliberate work to eventual analysis.

Paul Kelly: As a multi-faceted and charismatic anti-hero, Kelly’s character is more respectable than he likes to let on. Operating in the shadows to hide a heart of gold, he goes from an intimidating crime boss to an influential and important ally in the investigation.

Dr. Laszlo Kreizler: A protagonist and a classic anti-hero, Kreizler is a kind and empathic character, though also unconventional and emotionally distant. A kind of quiet desperation follows him through the book, as he attempts to prove his theory that mental illness is the result of environment and not physiological pathologies. Deeply conflicted by a secret that pits his rational mind against his secret past, he is single-minded in his pursuit of the killer, believing that if he gets the answers he needs from the murderer, he may finally be able to unlock the mystery of the human mind.

Cyrus Montrose: Intelligent and courteous to a fault, Cyrus’s character speaks softly but carries a big stick. He’s staunchly protective and loyal to his friends—inspiring great fondness from the other characters. He represents both strength and tolerance, especially in the face of abject racism.

John Schuyler Moore: As the main protagonist, Moore’s character is motivated by truth and transparency. Able to move effortlessly between the worlds of privilege (the opera and Delmonico’s) and poverty (flop houses and tenement slums), his character is the tie that binds all the others together. He’s compassionate, sentimental, and sometimes naïve, but he’s never cynical.

Theodore Roosevelt: Theodore is the moral center of the story. The future president represents the best in America. A man of deep conviction and grand political ambitions, Theodore finds himself faced with a troubling moral dilemma: ignore the murders of young boy prostitutes (thereby succumbing to the pressures of his society friends) or use his law-enforcement powers to stop the killer before he kills again. Fortunately, Roosevelt listens to the angel on his shoulder.

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