Cecil Redmond Character Analysis

Mr. Redmond is Charlie’s neighbor. After the death of Mr. Feehan, Mr. Redmond and his wife begin helping the Feehans in small ways, giving them food and assisting Mrs. Feehan with baby Jack. When Charlie beats the abusive Mr. Peacock with a cricket bat, he calls Mr. Redmond to the house to help, and afterwards Mr. Redmond offers to teach Charlie boxing so he can defend himself. Over the course of Mr. Redmond’s training regimen, he and Charlie grow closer, and Mr. Redmond takes on a fatherly role for Charlie. He is concerned about Charlie’s connection to Squizzy Taylor, and he suggests Charlie pursue professional racing as a way to earn money from running without interacting with criminals. When Charlie gives up boxing, Mr. Redmond offers to train him as a racer instead. He enters Charlie into the Ballarat Mile race and accompanies Charlie to Ballarat. Before the race, he gifts Charlie a new pair of running shoes to replace the old boots Charlie inherited from his father. Charlie keeps his father’s boots but wears the new running shoes for the race, mirroring how he still loves his late father but accepts Mr. Redmond’s guidance as a paternal figure.