It Can’t Happen Here

It Can’t Happen Here

by

Sinclair Lewis

Dr. Marcus Olmsted Character Analysis

Dr. Olmsted is an elderly but capable doctor who runs Fort Beulah’s main medical practice with Fowler Greenhill. After Judge Swan orders Greenhill’s execution, Olmsted joins the New Underground and hires Julian Falck as his personal driver. He passes secret information to and from the patients he visits in Trianon, including Doremus Jessup.
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Dr. Marcus Olmsted Character Timeline in It Can’t Happen Here

The timeline below shows where the character Dr. Marcus Olmsted appears in It Can’t Happen Here. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 18
American Fascism Theme Icon
Morality and Resistance Theme Icon
...letters at her desk while her husband Fowler Greenhill, their son David, and Greenhill’s partner Dr. Olmsted discuss David’s future. David says that he wants to be a doctor like his father,... (full context)
Chapter 21
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...Doremus finds Julian a job as a driver and assistant for Fowler Greenhill’s old partner, Dr. Marcus Olmsted . Julian quickly decides that he wants to become a doctor, too. (full context)
Chapter 25
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...resisters around. Falck agrees to talk with Karl Pascal next time he visits Trianon with Dr. Olmsted . Two days later, Falck tells Jessup about the concentration camp. It stinks of human... (full context)
Chapter 26
Morality and Resistance Theme Icon
Political Communication and Mass Media Theme Icon
...about two dozen members, including Doremus Jessup, Buck Titus, Dan Wilgus, Lorinda Pike, Julian Falck, Dr. Marcus Olmsted , John Pollikop, Father Perefixe, Henry Veeder’s wife, Harry Kindermann, Mungo Kitterick, and Pete Vutong.... (full context)
American Fascism Theme Icon
Morality and Resistance Theme Icon
...distribute the New Underground pamphlets by taking them to Truman Webb’s farmhouse. Julian Falck and Dr. Olmsted also shelter refugees headed for the border in Webb’s house—where Webb’s grandfather also sheltered escaping... (full context)
Chapter 31
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Morality and Resistance Theme Icon
...lets him spend a month in the hospital, and the drunkard prison doctor even lets Dr. Olmsted visit him from Fort Beulah. Olmsted updates Jessup on his family and friends: Emma, Mary,... (full context)
Chapter 33
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...or quit out of fear. Mary Greenhill now leads it, and just Sissy, Father Perefixe, Dr. Olmsted , and a few others remain. They do what little they can, mostly by helping... (full context)