Hag-Seed

by

Margaret Atwood

Lonnie Gordon Character Analysis

The head of the Makeshiweg Festival’s Board of Directors, a naïve but goodhearted old man. Felix often disdains Lonnie because he’s so boring and pompous; however, the elderly man is one of the only people who displays sincere kindness to him, attending Nadia and Miranda’s funerals and commiserating with him after Tony’s coup. Twelve years later, Lonnie accompanies Tony and Sal on their ill-fated visit to the prison, having become a local fundraiser for their political party. Lonnie is taken hostage with the rest of the men but, mindful of his innocence, Felix prevents him from eating the drugged grapes and keeps him safe from harm. Lonnie is a reminder that it’s often disregarded people without power or influence who prove the most loyal and kind. He corresponds to the character Gonzalo in The Tempest.
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Lonnie Gordon Character Timeline in Hag-Seed

The timeline below shows where the character Lonnie Gordon appears in Hag-Seed. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3. Usurper
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...news. He’s just been to a Board meeting; Felix always skips these because the chair, Lonnie Gordon, is such a long-winded bore. (full context)
Chapter 4. Garment
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Felix sees the Board’s chairman, Lonnie Gordon, shuffling towards him with an umbrella. Weakly, he tells Felix that he didn’t vote... (full context)
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Lonnie gives Felix his annotated script of The Tempest as well, but Felix sneers that he’ll... (full context)
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Lonnie advises Felix to take a rest, especially after his two recent losses. He came to... (full context)
Chapter 31. Bountiful Fortune, Now My Dear Lady
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
...full of information she’s not technically supposed to have. Scanning the page, Felix finds that Lonnie Gordon—now a local political fundraiser—will be attending, as well as Sebert Stanley, who’s planning to... (full context)
Chapter 32. Felix Addresses the Goblins
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
...time. The sailors will escort the politicians into the room and serve refreshments. Sal and Lonnie must drink from blue cups, while Tony and Sebert will get green ones. Everyone else... (full context)
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The other demonstration cell will be the “nap-time location” for Sal and Lonnie. Felix reminds the goblins how important it is that everyone is placed in the right... (full context)
Chapter 33. The Hour’s Now Come
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
...Sebert. He “affably” and cheerfully walks through the metal detector with his hands up, while Lonnie proceeds dolefully and Frederick looks “wide-eyed” at all these new surroundings. (full context)
Chapter 36. A Maze Trod
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
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Unsure of what’s happening to them, Sal, Tony, Sebert, and Lonnie are marched down a pitch-black hallway, surrounding the by the amplified sounds of wind and... (full context)
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...Tony begin to talk quietly, pointing out that the whole thing is an embarrassment. As Lonnie embarks on a long speech about the ways he would reform prisons, Tony makes fun... (full context)
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...hypothetical situation in which they drown Sal in a toilet and frame the prisoners; meanwhile, Lonnie would have a heart attack, assisted by a pillow. No one would be able to... (full context)
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
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Sal and Lonnie sit up suddenly. Tony says that he’s been hearing roaring noises, and tells them to... (full context)
Chapter 37. Charms Crack Not
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...the hallway towards the music. Felix says that he feels a little guilty for subjecting Lonnie to this ordeal, but he double checks with 8Handz that a speaker has been planted... (full context)
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
...for Frederick again, and even Tony is disconcerted. Sebert starts shouting that they’ve been poisoned. Lonnie, who feels nothing strange, is confused. Watching on the screen, 8Handz cheers but Felix tells... (full context)
Chapter 38. Not a Frown Further
Theater and The Tempest Theme Icon
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...is crying and whimpering while Tony and Sebert flail their arms, shouting at imaginary demons. Lonnie is hiding behind the table. 8Handz worries that they overdid the drugs, but Felix insists... (full context)
Imprisonment and Marginalization Theme Icon
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...that they’re really the “monstrous” ones in this situation. Tony and Sal start shrieking, while Lonnie begs them to pull themselves together. (full context)
Chapter 39. Merrily, Merrily
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...garment. He greets them with one of Prospero’s speeches but then breaks character to thank Lonnie for his good behavior. Everyone is astonished to see him, as he’s been so long... (full context)
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Sal immediately agrees to the agreement, while Tony and Sebert stare resentfully at him. Lonnie asks if the riot was real at all, but Felix ignores him. Gesturing to Sal,... (full context)