Lance Rogers Character Analysis in The Bonesetter’s Daughter

Lance Rogers is the young man who owns the bungalow that LuLing rents when Ruth is 11. Although outwardly friendly, he is emotionally manipulative and frequently cheats on his wife, Dottie Rogers. Ruth has a crush on Lance and innocently believes that he has gotten her pregnant after she sits on the toilet he used before her. Dottie reports Lance for rape, but Ruth’s misunderstanding comes to light before Dottie can call the police. Still, Lance harbors lingering feelings of resentment toward Ruth. He takes advantage of her emotional vulnerability by luring her into his empty house and touching her inappropriately.

Lance Rogers Character Timeline in The Bonesetter’s Daughter

The timeline below shows where the character Lance Rogers appears in The Bonesetter’s Daughter. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...same room as her mother, who never stops nagging her. Ruth develops a crush on Lance Rogers, the husband of the couple who rents the bungalow, which is an in-law suite... (full context)

Memory, Culture, and the Past Theme Icon

...unpacking a color TV—something Ruth has only seen in stores—to watch The Wizard of Oz. Lance invites Ruth to watch the movie with them and tells her she can ask LuLing,... (full context)

Ruth returns to Lance and Dottie’s at 7:00 to watch the movie. When she knocks on the door, she... (full context)

...drunk, gets up to make popcorn in the kitchen during a commercial break. Alone with Lance, Ruth feels like she’s on a date. Dottie returns with popcorn, and Ruth realizes she... (full context)

...be what finally inspires her mother to go through with her threats of suicide. Seeing Lance makes her seize with anxiety, and she starts to wish she’d die. She tries to... (full context)

...filthy bastard” under her breath. Ruth is shocked to realize that Dottie is mad at Lance, not her. Dottie offers to help Ruth take care of the situation, confiding in Ruth... (full context)

Later that night, Ruth takes the garbage out hears Dottie screaming at Lance for taking advantage of defenseless young girls. Later that night, the shouting stops suddenly. Ruth... (full context)

...of framing an innocent man for rape. She storms inside, leaving Ruth alone to cry. Lance returns home sometime later. Ruth is too frightened and ashamed to go to school, and... (full context)

...finally tells her mother she’s well enough to go to school. Before she can leave, Lance intercepts her and demands that they talk. Ruth nervously follows him inside the cottage. The... (full context)

Lance jokes with Ruth about how silly it was for her to believe babies are made... (full context)

Later that night, Ruth tries to tell LuLing about what happened with Lance, but LuLing doesn’t understand what her daughter is saying and insists that Lance is only... (full context)