Loveday Character Analysis in The Secret River

Loveday is one of Thornhill’s neighbors on the Hawkesbury. Like Smasher, Spider, and Sagitty, Loveday despises the natives. Claiming he was once speared in the hip by a native, Loveday spreads exaggerated stories of the natives’ violence and engages in cruel acts of retaliation against them. When Smasher brings a native’s head to Thornhill’s one night, Loveday suggests they pickle it.

Loveday Character Timeline in The Secret River

The timeline below shows where the character Loveday appears in The Secret River. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

A man nicknamed Spider arrives with Loveday. Thornhill hopes the conversation will turn away from killing the natives, but it only becomes... (full context)

Home and the Immigrant Experience Theme Icon

Language, Literacy, and Storytelling Theme Icon

...his way to the lit hut, where he finds Sal entertaining Smasher, Mrs. Herring, Sagitty, Loveday, Blackwood, and another neighbor. When Thornhill enters, Sagitty and Smasher tell him about Spider: while... (full context)

Loveday angrily shouts that the natives are destitute, and Smasher continues the tirade. Smasher mimes shooting... (full context)

The Governor issues a proclamation in the Sydney Gazette, which Loveday reads to a group of settlers at Thornhill's one night. Smasher, Sagitty, and Blackwood are... (full context)

...that he's going to boil the head and sell it. The room is silent until Loveday suggests pickling the head. Smasher pulls out the ears again, and Thornhill almost feels bad... (full context)

Thornhill looks at the men in the room and thinks that they're all becoming wicked. Loveday says that they need to either fight or return to their old lives. Dan approaches... (full context)

...he was born in Kent and accused of stealing French brandy. The story came from Loveday, who had moved on to a story involving a young girl and a false accusation.... (full context)