Leopold/Mr. Howland Character Analysis in Trust

Leopold/Mr. Howland is Helen/Mildred’s father and Catherine/Adelaide’s husband. In Bonds, Leopold takes it upon himself to educate the precocious Helen, but he becomes increasingly interested in ideas that Helen views as nonsensical, like necromancy and alchemy. He becomes afflicted with mental illness and is sent to a Swiss sanatorium for treatment. Helen later chooses that same sanatorium for her own treatment when she experiences symptoms of mental illness similar to her father’s. In contrast to Leopold, Mr. Howland dies of a lung disease while the family is living in Europe and does not struggle with mental health issues.

Leopold/Mr. Howland Character Timeline in Trust

The timeline below shows where the character Leopold/Mr. Howland appears in Trust. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Catherine is a gifted conversationalist, which helps the family retain its prominent status. Her husband, Leopold, takes the education of their daughter, Helen, into his own hands. He is amazed and... (full context)

...social engagements, where Helen entertains people with performances designed to show off her intellect. When Leopold learns about the performances, he’s furious. The years of simmering resentment between Catherine and Leopold... (full context)

As the war approaches, Catherine tries to arrange for her family to leave Europe, but Leopold falls into “delirium.” Catherine takes him to a sanatorium. Helen is more or less on... (full context)

During the war, Helen wasn’t able to reach the sanatorium in Switzerland where her father Leopold was. When the war ends, shortly after Helen and Benjamin are married, she gets through... (full context)

...two days. Benjamin calls Catherine to see if she thinks Helen’s illness is similar to Leopold’s. When Catherine sees Helen, she’s shocked by the state Helen is in. Helen hands her... (full context)