Runaway

by

Alice Munro

Leon Jamieson Character Analysis

Leon was Sylvia’s husband and a poet. He is already dead at the beginning of the story. Carla and Clark learn from his obituary that Leon had won a big cash prize for his poetry, prompting Clark to scheme a way to get money from Sylvia. Sylvia wonders if Flora’s seemingly magical reappearance is related to Leon’s death.
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Leon Jamieson Character Timeline in Runaway

The timeline below shows where the character Leon Jamieson appears in Runaway. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Runaway
Relationships and Control Theme Icon
Recently, leading up to this rift, Clark and Carla read Leon Jamieson’s (Sylvia’s husband) obituary in the paper. Leon was much older than Sylvia, and he... (full context)
Relationships and Control Theme Icon
...Jamieson—the story is, in reality, a lie she told Clark. She told him that when Leon was sick and dying, he tried to sexually molest Carla when she was at their... (full context)
Attachment, Maturity, and Stability Theme Icon
...Carla’s presence and is grateful for Carla’s help cleaning the house and clearing it of Leon’s belongings. One day, Carla kissed Sylvia’s head as they cleaned, which has stuck in Sylvia’s... (full context)
Attachment, Maturity, and Stability Theme Icon
Escape Theme Icon
...goes for a walk and reminisces about how she used to go on walks with Leon. She feels irritated and anxious thinking about Carla. She calls Ruth first to warn her... (full context)
Relationships and Control Theme Icon
...that she’s at home in bed. Sylvia examines Clark’s menacing and disagreeable appearance and remembers Leon once saying that Clark was “unsure of himself.” Nonetheless, she knows that Clark could hurt... (full context)
Attachment, Maturity, and Stability Theme Icon
Relationships and Control Theme Icon
...by thoughts of Flora’s fantastical reappearance. She wonders if the event could be related to Leon’s passing. (full context)
Attachment, Maturity, and Stability Theme Icon
Relationships and Control Theme Icon
Independence and Freedom Theme Icon
...that he didn’t. She pleads for him to believe that everything she told him about Leon was “made-up,” and he says he believes her. As they get into bed, Carla notes... (full context)