The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Character Analysis

Dr. David Henry

The novel’s protagonist and its most inscrutable, complex character, David Henry is haunted by a past full of poverty, grief, and loss when he makes the painful decision to send away his newborn daughter Phoebe… read analysis of Dr. David Henry

Norah Henry

At the start of the novel, Norah Henry is a young, subservient wife whose only hope is to be taken care of. When she unexpectedly has twins, her husband David, who delivered the children… read analysis of Norah Henry

Caroline Gill Simpson

Caroline is the novel’s secondary protagonist, a sensitive yet strong nurse in Lexington, Kentucky who gets more than she bargained for when she assists in the birth of the children of Norah Henry, the… read analysis of Caroline Gill Simpson

Paul Henry

Artistic, passionate, and often angry, Paul Henry grows up in the shadow of the twin sister he never knew. Adventurous and curious as a little boy and later introverted, focused, and creative as a young… read analysis of Paul Henry

Phoebe Gill Simpson

Phoebe, born with Down syndrome, is rejected by her father, David Henry, at birth. Caroline Gill is charged with taking her to a special home on the outskirts of Lexington—but unable to leave the… read analysis of Phoebe Gill Simpson

Bree

Bree is Norah’s younger sister. A rebellious, intelligent, and free-spirited young woman, Bree caused a scandal in their family when she ran away from home before graduating high school to elope with a much older… read analysis of Bree

Rosemary

When David Henry returns to his childhood home in West Virginia—a property to which he still holds the deed—he discovers sixteen-year-old Rosemary squatting there. Pregnant, abandoned by her boyfriend, and disowned by her family, Rosemary… read analysis of Rosemary

Albert “Al” Simpson

Al is a kindly trucker whose chance meeting with Caroline Gill on the fateful night of Phoebe’s birth transcends time and distance, and eventually blossoms into a romance and marriage. Al is patient, steadfast, and… read analysis of Albert “Al” Simpson

Dorothy “Doro” March

Doro is a Pittsburgh woman who hires Caroline to care for her elderly father Leo. Doro takes a chance on Caroline despite not having any references in support of her job application—when Caroline explains… read analysis of Dorothy “Doro” March

June

June is David Henry’s deceased sister. June died in her youth from heart failure after years of illness, and her loss is in part why David gives Phoebe away—he knows that Down syndrome children have… read analysis of June

Howard

Howard is the first man with whom Norah has an extramarital affair. Norah and David meet Howard while on vacation in Aruba, and while David and Howard discuss their shared interests in art and photography… read analysis of Howard

Minor Characters

Leo March

Leo is Doro’s father, a stubborn, difficult, elderly man affected by dementia whom Caroline is hired to care for. Caroline has a calming effect on Leo, and he confides in her that she is the first nurse in ages to stay with him longer than a week.

Sandra

Sandra is one of Caroline’s good friends in Pittsburgh. Sandra’s son Tim also has Down syndrome, and together, Caroline and Sandra fight for their children’s rights to be mainstreamed in school and receive a decent public education.

Tim

Tim is Sandra’s son. Like Phoebe, he has Down syndrome.

Dr. Bentley

An obstetrician at the hospital where David Henry works. On the night of the birth of Norah’s twins, Dr. Bentley gets stuck in a snowstorm, forcing David himself to deliver the babies—and changing the fate of the Henry family forever.

Lucy Martin

Lucy Martin is one of Caroline’s nosy neighbors in Lexington.

Kay Marshall

Kay Marshall is a wealthy, fashionable Lexington woman.

Mark Bell

Mark Bell is Bree’s boyfriend, a protestor and Vietnam veteran.

Ron Stone

Ron Stone is a lawyer who supports Sandra, Caroline, and other parents of children with Down syndrome in their fight against the Board of Education.

Duke Madison

Duke Madison is Paul’s best friend in school, a stoner and a gifted pianist.

Trace

Trace is Doro’s lover. They leave Pittsburgh together to travel the world.

Avery

Avery is one of Phoebe and Caroline’s neighbors.

Jack

Jack is Rosemary’s young son.

Frederic

Frederic is Norah’s boyfriend and, later, her second husband.

Michelle

Michelle is Paul’s girlfriend, a free-spirited flautist. Afraid of commitment and resistant to the idea of having children, she leaves him when he expresses interest in getting married.

Robert

Robert is Phoebe’s boyfriend. Like Phoebe, he has Down syndrome. Robert is a kind, outgoing, loving man who dreams of building a life with Phoebe in spite of the challenges they both face as differently-abled individuals.