Goodbye, Columbus Character Analysis

Neil Klugman

Neil is the protagonist of Goodbye, Columbus; the novella recounts his brief but passionate summer relationship with Brenda Patimkin. At the beginning of the story, Neil is 23 years old, works at the… read analysis of Neil Klugman

Brenda Patimkin

Brenda is Neil’s girlfriend and Mr. and Mrs. Patimkin’s daughter. Neil meets Brenda at the Green Lane Country Club in Short Hills when his cousin Doris invites him. After she asks him to… read analysis of Brenda Patimkin

Mr. Patimkin

Mr. Patimkin is Brenda, Ron, and Julie’s father, and Mrs. Patimkin’s husband. Mr. Patimkin comes from a similar background to Neil’s family, growing up working-class and Jewish. However, Mr. Patimkin was… read analysis of Mr. Patimkin

Mrs. Patimkin

Mrs. Patimkin is Brenda, Ron, and Julie’s mother, and Mr. Patimkin’s wife. She is beautiful and very polite. Brenda believes that Mrs. Patimkin hates Brenda because she is jealous of Brenda’s… read analysis of Mrs. Patimkin

Aunt Gladys

Aunt Gladys is Neil’s aunt, Uncle Max’s wife, and Susan’s mother. Neil lives with Aunt Gladys and her family in Newark, and their life is working class. The family maintains many cultural… read analysis of Aunt Gladys

Ron Patimkin

Ron is Brenda’s older brother. He is large and athletic, having played basketball at Ohio State University. Initially, his plan is to become a gym teacher, but when he and his girlfriend Harriet decide… read analysis of Ron Patimkin

The Boy

A young African American boy often visits the library where Neil works. He becomes obsessed with looking at a book of Paul Gauguin reprints, and is particularly captivated by his paintings of the Tahitian… read analysis of The Boy

Leo Patimkin

Leo is Mr. Patimkin’s half-brother, whom Neil meets at Ron’s wedding. Leo is a light bulb salesman who laments that he is unsuccessful, and he’s particularly bitter at the contrast between his modest… read analysis of Leo Patimkin

Carlota

Carlota is the Patimkin family’s African American maid, who cooks, cleans, and watches Julie. Neil explains that he feels a kinship with Carlota, reinforcing how the stark class divisions between Neil and the Patimkins… read analysis of Carlota

Minor Characters

Harriet Ehrlich

Harriet is Ron’s fiancée—they marry at the end of the novella. Neil observes that Harriet is “all surfaces.” She is a nice person and quite beautiful, but she has very little depth.

Julie Patimkin

Julie is Brenda and Ron’s 10-year-old sister, and Mr. and Mrs. Patimkin’s youngest child. She is athletic and competitive like the rest of her family.

Mr. Scapello

Mr. Scapello is Neil’s boss at the library. He promotes Neil to the Reference Room over the summer, and Neil fears ending up on Mr. Scapello’s boring career trajectory.

Luther Ferrari

Luther is Ron’s friend and best man, and Brenda’s ex-boyfriend. Neil feels threatened when he and Brenda go to see Luther play basketball.

Uncle Max

Max is Neil’s uncle, Aunt Gladys’s husband, and Susan’s father.

Doris

Doris is Neil’s cousin, who invites him to the Green Lane Country Club.

Susan

Susan is Neil’s cousin and Aunt Gladys and Uncle Max’s daughter.

John McKee

John is a coworker of Neil’s at the library.