A Journal of the Plague Year Character Analysis

The Narrator

The narrator is a saddler who, from 1664 to 1666, lives outside London’s eastern city wall near Aldgate. A curious, skeptical, yet devoutly religious man, he deplores the superstitious practices such as astrology and fortune-telling… read analysis of The Narrator

The Narrator’s Brother

The narrator’s older brother is a religiously devout but practical businessman recently returned to London from Portugal. Early in the plague’s devastation of London, he sends his wife and two children to safety in… read analysis of The Narrator’s Brother

The Waterman

The waterman is a religiously devout, working-class boat owner who earns his living during the plague by rowing provisions from shore to people self-quarantining on ships anchored in the Thames. The waterman lives in his… read analysis of The Waterman

John

John is a working-class ex-soldier and current “Biscuit Baker” who survives the plague with his brother Thomas and their acquaintance Richard by fleeing London and camping in the countryside for many months, first in a… read analysis of John

Thomas

Thomas is a working-class ex-sailor and current sail-maker with an unspecified physical disability who survives the plague with his brother John and their acquaintance Richard by fleeing London and camping in the countryside for many… read analysis of Thomas

Richard

Richard is a working-class joiner (a kind of woodworker) who survives the plague with his acquaintances, brothers John and Thomas, by fleeing London and camping in the countryside for many months, first in a… read analysis of Richard

Minor Characters

Dr. Heath

Dr. Heath is a physician and a good friend of the narrator’s who encourages the narrator to self-quarantine at home during the height of the plague and correctly predicts when the plague outbreak will begin to lessen in severity.