Alias Grace

Alias Grace

by

Margaret Atwood

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Major Humphrey Character Analysis

Rachel Humphrey’s alcoholic husband who leaves their home near the beginning of the novel. By the time Rachel receives a letter announcing the Major’s imminent return, she is already deeply enmeshed in an affair with her tenant, Dr. Simon Jordan. In a letter from Simon’s mother, Mrs. Constance Jordan, the reader learns that Major Humphrey never returned to his wife; instead, his body was discovered and he is thought to have died of “prolonged intoxication and the resulting delirium.”
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Major Humphrey Character Timeline in Alias Grace

The timeline below shows where the character Major Humphrey appears in Alias Grace. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6
Female Sexuality and the Nature of Women Theme Icon
Truth, Memory, and Madness Theme Icon
Gender, Ownership, and Power Theme Icon
...someone named Dr. Binswanger. Simon describes his lodgings in Kingston, at the home of a Major C. D. Humphrey . Simon tells his friend that his task will not be easy, “as the gentle... (full context)
Chapter 10
Female Sexuality and the Nature of Women Theme Icon
Social Class and Propriety Theme Icon
...with whom he is familiar from his time studying in Europe. Simon also runs into Major Humphrey , who appears drunk. Simon thinks, “There must be a certain freedom in not having... (full context)
Chapter 17
Social Class and Propriety Theme Icon
Gender, Ownership, and Power Theme Icon
...tells Simon that she had to let Dora go, because she could not pay her. Major Humphrey took money from Mrs. Humphrey two days ago and she has not seen or heard... (full context)
Chapter 49
Female Sexuality and the Nature of Women Theme Icon
Gender, Ownership, and Power Theme Icon
...Rachel waiting for him, crying. She tells Simon she’s had a letter from her husband, Major Humphrey ; he will be returning to Rachel the day after tomorrow. Rachel is panicked and... (full context)
Chapter 50
Social Class and Propriety Theme Icon
Truth, Memory, and Madness Theme Icon
...spent in the city of Kingston.” Mrs. Jordan offers her condolences on the death of Major Humphrey , but writes that it is her duty to inform Rachel that Simon is as... (full context)