Housekeeping Character Analysis

Ruth Stone

Ruth is the novel’s narrator and protagonist, Helen’s daughter, and Lucille’s sister. As she looks back on her formative years, Ruth’s adult editorial intrusions often come through, rendering the narrative style of the… read analysis of Ruth Stone

Sylvie Fisher

Named for her mother, Sylvia Foster, Sylvia “Sylvie” Fisher is Helen and Molly’s sister and Ruth and Lucille’s aunt. After leaving home at a young age to marry, Sylvie essentially dropped off… read analysis of Sylvie Fisher

Lucille Stone

Lucille is Ruth’s sister and the novel’s main antagonist in many ways. Redheaded, opinionated, and concerned deeply with manners, propriety, and appearances, Lucille is Ruth’s opposite in almost every way. Nevertheless, the girls are… read analysis of Lucille Stone

Helen Stone / Ruth and Lucille’s Mother

Ruth and Lucille’s mother. A quiet and mysterious woman who married a man named Reginald Stone in a haste, and yet separated from him so soon after having her girls that neither of them… read analysis of Helen Stone / Ruth and Lucille’s Mother

Sylvia Foster

Ruth and Lucille’s grandmother, and Helen and Sylvie’s mother. A kind and elderly woman who finds joy in small moments and simple things despite the hardships and losses she’s suffered in life. Despite… read analysis of Sylvia Foster

Lily and Nona Foster

Lucille and Ruth’s great-aunts, a pair of old and anxious spinsters, who come to care for them shortly after their grandmother Sylvia’s death. Lily and Nona are not twins, but function as a… read analysis of Lily and Nona Foster

Edmund Foster

Sylvia Foster’s husband and father to Helen, Sylvie, and Molly. Long before Ruth and Lucille were born, he perished in a famous accident in which a train going over a bridge… read analysis of Edmund Foster

Minor Characters

Molly Foster

Sylvie and Helen’s sister, and Lucille and Ruth’s aunt. A missionary in China who is referred to but never seen within the book.

Bernice

Helen, Ruth, and Lucille’s neighbor in Spokane. She is invested in their lives and kindly lends them her car so that they can take a trip to Fingerbone.

Miss Royce

Lucille’s home economics teacher, with whom Lucille goes to live when she becomes suspicious of Sylvie and jealous of the bond between her and Ruth.

Mr. French

The principal at Ruth and Lucille’s school. He reprimands the girls for skipping school and comes down on Ruth especially harshly. He later commends her, though, for her efforts to catch up and get ahead.

The Sheriff

The town sheriff. A kindly man who seems to take no pleasure in reprimanding Sylvie for her eccentric ways and what her neighbors perceive as her possible endangerment of Ruth and Lucille.

Housekeeping

Marilynne Robinson

Housekeeping Characters