Mr. Conlan (“Bore”) Character Analysis

Mr. Conlan, whom John has nicknamed “Bore,” is John’s father. He’s a recovering alcoholic who quit drinking after getting diagnosed with sclerosis of the liver (a result of his alcoholism). But before he quit drinking, he jokingly encouraged young John to drink, which ultimately led John to develop a drinking habit. John’s unruliness frequently causes Bore to lose his temper, and so much of John’s mother’s attention goes toward ensuring that Bore remains calm, often at John’s expense. Bore sees John as a misbehaving underachiever and frequently compares John to John’s wealthy, successful older brother, Kenneth. Bore doesn’t understand—and doesn’t seem interesting in understanding—John’s dreams and inner struggles. As a result, John doesn’t receive the support and encouragement he needs to thrive, and he responds to this either by suffering in silence or acting out.