The Westing Game Character Analysis

Tabitha-Ruth “Turtle” Wexler

The de facto protagonist of the novel and the youngest of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs, Turtle Wexler is a precocious preteen who is fiercely protective of herself, her secrets, and the beloved long… read analysis of Tabitha-Ruth “Turtle” Wexler

Samuel W. Westing

Sam Westing, the son of immigrants who was born as Samuel “Windy” Windkloppel, is the eccentric and reclusive owner and operator of the Westing Paper Products Corporation, a conglomerate based in the eponymous Westingtown just… read analysis of Samuel W. Westing

Grace Windsor (Windkloppel) Wexler

The snobby, social-climbing Grace Wexler is the wife of Jake Wexler and the mother of Turtle and Angela. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. A self-proclaimed heiress with a passion for… read analysis of Grace Windsor (Windkloppel) Wexler

Angela Wexler

Angela is the beautiful 19-year-old daughter of Jake and Grace Wexler and the sister of Turtle Wexler. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. Engaged at the start of the novel to… read analysis of Angela Wexler

Jake Wexler

Jake Wexler is a podiatrist, Angela and Turtle’s father, and Grace’s husband. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. Jake is also secretly a bookie—dissatisfied with his own profession yet so… read analysis of Jake Wexler

Judge Josie-Jo “J.J.” Ford

Judge Josie-Jo “J.J.” Ford is a judge who serves in the Appellate Division of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. A reserved yet proud black woman, Ford has… read analysis of Judge Josie-Jo “J.J.” Ford

Berthe Erica Crow

Crow is a mysterious, deeply religious, and very tall woman who dresses all in black. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. Crow works as the cleaning woman at Sunset Towers and lives… read analysis of Berthe Erica Crow

James Shin Hoo

James Shin Hoo is a restaurateur, father to Doug Hoo, and husband to Madame Sun Lin Hoo. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. Born James Hoo in Chicago to immigrant… read analysis of James Shin Hoo

Madame Sun Lin Hoo

Madame Sun Lin Hoo is the 28-year-old second wife of James Shin Hoo and stepmother of Doug Hoo. She’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. A recent immigrant from Hong Kong, she… read analysis of Madame Sun Lin Hoo

Alexander “Sandy” McSouthers

Sandy McSouthers is the doorman at Sunset Towers. He’s presented as one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs, though he is secretly an alias of Westing. A kindly ex-boxer with a chipped tooth and… read analysis of Alexander “Sandy” McSouthers

Sydelle Pulaski

Sydelle Pulaski is a lonely, aging woman who has worked for decades as the secretary to the owner of a local sausage company while living with her mother and two older aunts. Sydelle is the… read analysis of Sydelle Pulaski

Christos “Chris” Theodorakis

Chris Theodorakis is George and Catherine’s the 15-year-old son and Theo’s younger brother. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. An intelligent, thoughtful, and soulful young man who has recently been… read analysis of Christos “Chris” Theodorakis

Theo Theodorakis

Theo Theodorakis is a high-school senior. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. George and Catherine’s and Chris’s older brother, Theo is a family-oriented youth who loves his parents and his… read analysis of Theo Theodorakis

Doug Hoo

Doug Hoo is the son of James Hoo. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. A high school senior, track star, and accomplished athlete, Doug Hoo is a genial, easygoing kid who… read analysis of Doug Hoo

Otis Amber

Otis is a hapless aging delivery boy who, at 62, lives in the basement of a greengrocer and makes local deliveries on his bicycle. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. Otis and… read analysis of Otis Amber

Flora Baumbach

Flora is a plump, kindly dressmaker who is one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. She is paired with the whip-smart but bratty Turtle Wexler; Flora is also in the process of making… read analysis of Flora Baumbach

Dr. Denton Deere

Dr. Denton Deere is Angela’s fiancé and an intern in plastic surgery at the local hospital. He’s one of Sam Westing’s 16 potential heirs. A smarmy, pompous, and self-important man, Deere is constantly… read analysis of Dr. Denton Deere

Julian R. Eastman

The mysterious Julian Eastman is the president and CEO of the Westing Paper Products corporation—and an alias of Sam Westing. Westing disguises himself as Eastman in the wake of his terrible automobile accident in… read analysis of Julian R. Eastman

Barney Northrup

Barney Northrup is a salesman charged with renting the six available apartments in the newly-constructed Sunset Towers on Lake Michigan—and an alias of Sam Westing. Barney Northrup wears a disguise—a bad wig and buck-toothed… read analysis of Barney Northrup

Dr. Sidney Sikes

Sidney Sikes is Sam Westing’s longtime friend and the local county coroner. After Sikes and Westing were in a car accident many years ago, both men all but disappeared from public life. Sikes, it… read analysis of Dr. Sidney Sikes

Edgar Jennings “E.J.” Plum

Edgar Jennings “E.J.” Plum is the young, inexperienced lawyer assigned to handle the reading of Sam Westing’s will, the organization of the Westing game, and the distribution of Westing’s estate. Plum, who is in… read analysis of Edgar Jennings “E.J.” Plum

Violet Westing

Violet Westing is the deceased daughter of Sam Westing and Berthe Erica Crow. She was once in love with George Theodorakis, the son of one of Westing’s workers, but her mother felt that… read analysis of Violet Westing

Minor Characters

George Theodorakis

George is Chris and Theo’s father and Catherine’s husband. As a young man, he was in love with Violet Westing, but their courtship was cut short when Violet’s mother, Crow, arranged a more suitable match for Violet—a move that ultimately led to her unhappy daughter’s suicide.

Catherine Theodorakis

Catherine is George’s wife and Chris and Theo’s mother. A tired, anxious woman, she frets over Chris’s health and her family’s coffee shop business, yet she knows how to handle a crisis.

Alice

Alice is Angela and Denton Deere’s daughter.

Rosalie

Rosalie is Flora Baumbach’s deceased daughter. Rosalie was developmentally disabled, and she died of pneumonia a year before the start of the Westing game.

The Westing Game

Ellen Raskin

The Westing Game Characters