Essay On Wade Whitehouse In Russell Banks's Affliction

The character Wade Whitehouse from the book Affliction by Russell Banks is very complex. To properly analyze his character one must take into account all aspects of his personality. To do so we must break down any information we may find about, the character’s background information, describe his personality, determine any changes to his character during the novel, and how he has affected fellow characters. First, we must look at the major factors that influence the character such as: background of the town, the family relations and early life experiences that have dramatically affected the character. The town of Lawford is a rural community in New Hampshire having no natural resources for economic strength. Due to this poor flow of money the town lacks simple services and
His father was a severe alcoholic who regularly abused each family member. Once drunk, he became extremely violent and could not control his anger. Wade’s mother, although very loving, could not protect the children because she herself feared her abusive husband. On many occasions she had also been abused so she tried to avoid any confrontation at any cost. Wade had four siblings, two older brothers Elbourne and Charlie, who were both killed during the Vietnam War. Wade also had one younger brother Rolfe, who left town for college, and a younger sister, Lena, who left town shortly after she realized she was pregnant. As a young child Wade had to watch Elbourn and Charlie being beaten by his drunken father. Until the age of ten he thought himself invincible because his father had not laid a hand on him but this false sense of security was cruelly brought to an end. As he obeyed his mother instead of his father, Mr. Whitehouse became enraged and attacked his son, “slapping him again and again, harder each time, although each time the boy felt it less, felt only the lava-like flow of heat that each blow left behind” (102