If We Were Villains Character Analysis

Oliver Marks

Oliver, the novel’s protagonist, is a fourth-year theatre student at Dellecher in 1997, when the book’s main story takes place. Oliver’s typecast is the sidekick. Loyal, kind, and attentive, Oliver is a good friend and… read analysis of Oliver Marks

James Farrow

James’s typecast is the hero. Oliver’s roommate and best friend, James is someone that Oliver loves possessively and with a devotion that “transcend[s] any notion of gender.” James’s family is from California, and his… read analysis of James Farrow

Richard Stirling

Richard’s typecast is the tyrant. Tall, muscular, and brooding, Richard inspires fear and envy in the other students. Onstage, Richard plays all of the most intimidating characters—tyrants, kings, and other powerful men. He comes from… read analysis of Richard Stirling

Meredith Dardenne

Meredith’s typecast is the femme fatale. The first thing that people tend to notice about her is her voluptuous beauty, and Meredith confesses to the class that she worries it’s the only thing people see… read analysis of Meredith Dardenne

Alexander Vass

Alexander’s typecast is the villain. Sly, sarcastic, and sometimes ruthlessly practical, Alexander’s ideas drive much of the group’s commitment to secrecy. He’s the one to urge James not to try and save Richard. He… read analysis of Alexander Vass

Filippa Kosta

Filippa’s typecast is the extra—that is, she doesn’t have a well-defined typecast. Instead, she tends to play leftover roles, especially ones that require her to dress as a man. The other characters often comment on… read analysis of Filippa Kosta

Wren Stirling

Wren’s typecast is the ingenue. A female parallel to James, she often plays his lover in the plays the class performs. She’s sweet and innocent both on and offstage, and of all the fourth-years… read analysis of Wren Stirling

Colin Hyland

Colin is a third-year drama student who’s deemed talented enough to act in the fourth-years’ plays. Although the fourth-years are predisposed to dislike him, calling him a “Richard the Second,” he turns out to… read analysis of Colin Hyland

Frederick Teasdale

Frederick is the theatre professor who teaches the students about Shakespeare. Kind and slightly stern, Frederick favors James and often smiles at Oliver, too. He expresses concern for Oliver when he breaks a teacup… read analysis of Frederick Teasdale

Gwendolyn

Gwendolyn is the theatre professor who teaches the students movement and performance. An eccentric dresser and intense personality, Gwendolyn makes it clear from the first day of her class that she has high expectations. Oliver… read analysis of Gwendolyn

Camilo

Camilo is the theatre professor who teaches the students stage fighting. Younger than Frederick and Gwendolyn, Camilo ends up married to Filippa in the novel’s present in 2007. The students seem to like Camilo… read analysis of Camilo

Joseph Colborne

Colborne is a detective who works on the case of Richard’s death. When Oliver and the other fourth-years first meet him in 1997, he’s a young man. He hides his feelings and suspicions well… read analysis of Joseph Colborne

Leah Marks

Leah is Oliver’s favorite little sister. Bright and inquisitive, she asks him questions about Dellecher and the theatre department during Thanksgiving break. When Oliver is arrested, Leah is crushed. Although Oliver likes her, he “abandons”… read analysis of Leah Marks

Caroline Marks

Caroline is Oliver’s less favored sister. He struggles to relate to her or her interests, and when his parents tell him that they need to pay for her eating disorder recovery instead of his… read analysis of Caroline Marks

Oliver’s Mother

Oliver gets along with his mother better than with his father. She’s a restrained and controlled woman, but she sometimes tries to calm Oliver’s father down, advocating on Oliver’s behalf. When Oliver’s father refused… read analysis of Oliver’s Mother

Oliver’s Father

Oliver doesn’t get along with his father, a grumpy, loud, and irascible man. Oliver’s father doesn’t approve of Oliver’s going to “art school,” and he initially refused to pay for the tuition until Oliver’s mother… read analysis of Oliver’s Father

Caleb Dardenne

Caleb is Meredith’s brother, and he’s as handsome as Meredith is beautiful. Oliver notes that Caleb is usually not sober, hinting at his struggles with addiction. In 2007, Oliver recalls seeing Caleb break the… read analysis of Caleb Dardenne

Minor Characters

Ned Walton

Walton is a Broadwater police officer who works with Colborne to investigate the case of Richard’s murder. He’s present when Oliver is arrested.

Dean Holinshead

Dean Holinshead is the dean of Dellecher. After Oliver's parents tell him they can't afford tuition for Oliver's last semester at Dellecher, Dean Holinshead finds helps him to secure financial aid, allowing Oliver to continue to attend the prestigious (but expensive) conservatory.