Eleanor is the novel’s protagonist and narrator. She’s nearly 30, lives in Glasgow, and has worked at the same graphic design company for nearly a decade. She has difficulty understanding social dynamics and makes others…
read analysis of Eleanor Oliphant
Raymond Gibbons
Raymond Gibbons is the inelegant but friendly new IT guy at Eleanor’s office. Raymond meets Eleanor when she calls him to fix her work computer when it becomes infected with a virus. After Raymond…
read analysis of Raymond Gibbons
Mummy / Sharon Smyth
Eleanor’s mother. Mummy isn’t alive during the novel’s present action, existing only as a voice in Eleanor’s head through which Eleanor articulates and dwells on her guilt, shame, and various insecurities. During Eleanor and…
read analysis of Mummy / Sharon Smyth
Marianne
Eleanor’s younger sister. When she was four, she died in the house fire that Mummy started in an attempt to kill her two children. Eleanor reentered the burning house to try to save Marianne…
read analysis of Marianne
Johnnie Lomond / The Musician
A local pop singer with whom Eleanor falls in love. In the beginning of the novel, Johnnie is the singer for the band Johnnie Lomond and the Pilgrim Pioneers, though he eventually leaves the band…
read analysis of Johnnie Lomond / The Musician
Get the entire Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
An elderly man whom Eleanor and Raymond help when he collapses in the middle of a crosswalk. Eleanor talks to Sammy to comfort him while Raymond waits for the ambulance to arrive. Eleanor feels concern…
read analysis of Sammy Thom
Mrs. Gibbons
Raymond’s mother. Mrs. Gibbons is a widower—Raymond’s father passed away shortly after Raymond started college—and, like Eleanor, she is acutely lonely. Mrs. Gibbons has arthritis, and Raymond visits her regularly to keep her…
read analysis of Mrs. Gibbons
Laura
Sammy’s daughter. She is 35 years old, gorgeous, and runs a beauty salon. Laura is turned off by Eleanor’s strangeness at first, though she eventually takes a liking to her offbeat sense of humor…
read analysis of Laura
Bob
Eleanor’s boss. Eleanor thinks he hired her because he felt bad for her—she arrived at the interview after with a black eye, missing teeth, and a broken arm—and for much of the book he…
read analysis of Bob
Dr. Maria Temple
Eleanor’s therapist. Dr. Temple helps Eleanor unpack her traumatic past and understand the consequences it has on her adult life. Under Dr. Temple’s guidance, Eleanor recovers repressed memories of the fire and of her…
read analysis of Dr. Maria Temple
Billy
One of Eleanor’s coworkers. Eleanor invites Billy to attend the concert where she first sees and falls in love with the the musician. Billy reports back to Eleanor’s other coworkers the next day…
read analysis of Billy
Loretta
The office manager at Eleanor’s office. She and her colleagues make fun of Eleanor behind her back. According to Eleanor, Loretta has an inflated sense of self-importance and makes ugly jewelry in her spare…
read analysis of Loretta
Glen
Eleanor’s cat, whom she names after Glen’s vodka, “an old friend” of hers. Glen is a gift from Raymond. Raymond’s roommate rescued Glen, who had been set on fire and left for…
read analysis of Glen
Minor Characters
Janey
The secretary at Eleanor’s office. She and the others mock Eleanor behind her back.
Bernadette
One of Eleanor’s coworkers. Bernadette’s brother went to school with local musician Johnnie Lomond, which motivates Eleanor to make a rare attempt at office small talk in an effort to further her “project” of pursuing Lomond.
Declan
Eleanor’s abusive ex-boyfriend from college. Eleanor stayed with Declan because her traumatic childhood instilled within her a capacity to expect cruelty and abuse from the people who love her.
Mr. Dewan
The Bangladeshi man who owns the local shop from which Eleanor frequently buys Glen’s vodka. Mr. Dewan and Eleanor have a friendly rapport, though he grows concerned when Eleanor’s drinking spirals out of control.
June Mullen
A social worker sent by the state to perform a checkup on Eleanor. Eleanor rejects Mullen’s attempts to tell her more about her case, reasoning that Mummy wouldn’t want her to talk about it with anyone.
Keith
Sammy’s oldest son. Eleanor and Raymond attend Keith’s 40th birthday party. After Sammy dies, Keith brings Eleanor Sammy’s red sweater as a memento.