A Visit from the Goon Squad

by

Jennifer Egan

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Goon Squad makes teaching easy.

A Visit from the Goon Squad Characters

Sasha Blake

One of the novel’s main characters, Sasha appears in several of the novel’s stories as both a major and minor character. Sasha struggles with her identity, and lives a wild life as she attempts to… read analysis of Sasha Blake

Bennie Salazar

Another main character in the novel, Bennie is a record executive. His mentor, Lou Kline, introduces him to the music industry as a teenager, and he becomes very successful. His success, however, leaves him… read analysis of Bennie Salazar

Lou Kline

Lou Kline is a powerful and charismatic music producer who lives a decadent lifestyle that includes eating at fancy restaurants, doing cocaine, and seducing young women. Early in the novel, he has a relationship with… read analysis of Lou Kline

Scotty Hausman

Guitarist of the Flaming Dildos, Scotty is an eccentric musician. Bennie’s good friend as a teenager, Scotty and Bennie stop hanging out after Scotty begins dating Alice, whom Bennie has a crush on… read analysis of Scotty Hausman

Dolly Peale (La Doll)

Also known as La Doll, Dolly is a famous PR consultant and celebrity in New York City. Dolly’s reputation is ruined after she organizes an event where a malfunction burns many of the party’s famous… read analysis of Dolly Peale (La Doll)
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Bosco

Bosco, the former guitarist of the Conduits, has fallen from fame and become fat, alcoholic, and sick with cancer. In an attempt to regain his fame, Bosco decides to go on a suicide tour, during… read analysis of Bosco

Rhea

A punk rocker in her youth, Rhea dyes her hair green to assume a punk identity, but feels self conscious about her freckles. Rhea is in love with Bennie, but feels left out because… read analysis of Rhea

Jocelyn

A childhood friend of Rhea, Bennie and Scotty, Jocelyn begins a sexual relationship with Lou Kline at the age of seventeen. Jocelyn spends much of her adult life in and out of rehab… read analysis of Jocelyn

Alex

Early in the novel, Alex is new to New York City, and enamored by the novel environment. He goes on a date with Sasha, during which she steals a woman’s wallet. Alex has strong… read analysis of Alex

Lulu

Dolly’s daughter, Lulu is a sociable young girl who often seems ashamed of and unable to relate to her mother. She travels with Dolly to an unnamed location to do PR work for theread analysis of Lulu

Stephanie

Christopher’s mother and Bennie’s wife and business associate, Stephanie moves from New York City to the wealthy community of Crandale with her family. A tattooed woman and recovering drug addict, Stephanie feels out… read analysis of Stephanie

Kitty Jackson

A famous actress who is assaulted by Jules Jones after an interview, during which he notes the power of her fame over those around her. A compassionate person, Kitty forgives Jules’ crime, and goes on… read analysis of Kitty Jackson

Rob

A suicidal college student, Rob pretends to be Sasha’s boyfriend so that Sasha’s father will finally think Sasha is dating a “nice” boy. Rob has depression, is possibly gay, and feels disconnected from himself… read analysis of Rob

Alison Blake

The daughter of Sasha and Drew, Alison is a stubborn young woman who keeps a journal compiled of PowerPoint slides. She has tremendous love for her brother, Lincoln, and her father, but struggles… read analysis of Alison Blake

Ted Hollander

Sasha’s uncle, Ted Hollander is a frustrated art scholar who goes to Naples to tried to locate Sasha. He is pleased that Sasha’s father funds the trip, and spends time viewing art, as opposed… read analysis of Ted Hollander

Charlene (Charlie)

Also known as Charlie, Charlene is Lou’s daughter. On a trip to Africa with her father, she misses her mother and tries to connect to her younger brother, Rolph. She is defiant in… read analysis of Charlene (Charlie)

Mindy

A Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at Berkley, Mindy is Lou’s girlfriend who travels to Africa with Lou and his children. An intelligent and motivated woman, Mindy has an inclination to analyze the interactions she… read analysis of Mindy
Minor Characters
Jules Jones
Stephanie’s brother, Jules is a frantic and neurotic journalist incarcerated for assaulting Kitty Jones after an interview. He spends time in prison, and moves in with Stephanie and Bennie after his release. He goes on to write a biography of Bosco titled “Conduit: A Rock and Roll Suicide.”
Drew
A friend of Sasha and Rob, Drew is a motivated young man from Wisconsin. He states he wants to become President of the United States, but ends up marrying Sasha and becoming a surgeon. He has a good heart, but has trouble connecting with his children.
Lincoln Blake
The autistic child of Sasha and Drew, Lincoln is obsessed with pauses in great rock and roll songs. He is intelligent, but socially awkward. He fails to relate to his father, but eventually finds connection through a project they do that involves graphing pauses in rock and roll music.
Rolph
Lou’s son, Rolph is a sensitive and naïve child who struggles to connect to his father. Rolfe commits suicide at the age of twenty-eight after years of estrangement from Lou.
The General
A genocidal dictator who hires Dolly to cover up his inhumane actions and reframe his image to avoid assassination.
Arc
The General’s human relations captain.
Alice
A friend of Bennie and Scotty, Alice is desired by both friends. Rhea attempts to befriend her, but Alice does not trust her. Alice marries Scotty, but ends up divorcing him.
Lizzie
Sasha’s friend in college, Lizzie dates a man named, Bix. Bix is black, and Lizzie has to hide this fact from her bigoted mother.
Bix
Lizzie’s boyfriend, Bix is a black graduate student who has an interest in technology.
Rebecca
Alex’s second wife and stepmother to Alex’s daughter.
Cora
Lou’s travel agent.
Christopher
Bennie’s son.
Albert
A tour guide in Africa, Albert drives the safari vehicle for Lou and his family during their safari.
Dean
A blond actor who often states the obvious, Dean joins Lou and his family on their safari.
Louise
A young girl who travels through Africa with Lou and his family. Louise goes on to reconnect with Dean years after the safari, and eventually marries him.
Chronos
Bassist of the band the Mad Hatters, Chronos joins Lou and his family on the safari. He is attacked by a lion, and saved by Albert.
Fiona
One of two older women on the safari with Lou and his family. Fiona and her friend Mildred are supposedly birdwatchers.
Mildred
The other woman on the safari with Lou and his family, Mildred and her friend Fiona are supposedly birdwatchers.
Coz
Sasha’s therapist, Coz attempts to help Sasha admit her problem with stealing and overcome it.
Collette
Bennie’s executive producer.
Dr. Beet
Benny and his son Christopher’s therapist.
Chandra
A member of the pop duo Stop/Go, Chandra is a musician and older sister of Louisa.
Louisa
A member of the pop duo Stop/Go, Louisa is a musician and younger sister of Chandra.
Olivia
Chandra’s daughter.
Marty
a shy violin player, Marty plays with the Flaming Dildos.
Ramsey
Lou’s old army buddy, Ramsey is the owner of the Safari company that Lou and his family travel with in Africa.
Dave
Scotty’s fishing buddy.
Clay
Kathy’s husband, Clay is a wealthy member of the Crandale community.
Kathy
Clay’s wife, Kathy is a tennis player who befriends Stephanie and becomes her tennis partner. Kathy has an affair with Bennie.
Cara-Ann
Alex’s daughter.
Noreen
An introverted woman and outcast in the Crandale community.
Beth
Sasha’s mother.
Hammer
Beth’s second husband, and Sasha’s stepfather.
Susan
Ted Hollander’s wife.
Alfred
Ted Hollander’s son.
Andy Grady
Sasha’s estranged father.
Wade
Drummer of the band the Pinheads, Wade is a touring musician who travels through Asia and Europe with Sasha before abandoning her in Hong Kong.
Ava
Alex’s daughter.
Lupa
Bennie’s second wife.
Zeus
An old friend of Alex, Zeus helps Alex promote Scotty’s show.
Joel
The drummer for the Flaming Dildos. A smart kid, with an overprotective father.
Sammy
Scotty’s fishing buddy.