Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Eleanor is the novel’s protagonist and narrator. She’s nearly 30, lives in Glasgow, and has worked at the same graphic design company for nearly a decade. She has difficulty understanding social dynamics and makes others… read analysis of Eleanor Oliphant

Raymond Gibbons is the inelegant but friendly new IT guy at Eleanor’s office. Raymond meets Eleanor when she calls him to fix her work computer when it becomes infected with a virus. After Raymond… read analysis of Raymond Gibbons

Eleanor’s mother. Mummy isn’t alive during the novel’s present action, existing only as a voice in Eleanor’s head through which Eleanor articulates and dwells on her guilt, shame, and various insecurities. During Eleanor and… read analysis of Mummy / Sharon Smyth

Eleanor’s younger sister. When she was four, she died in the house fire that Mummy started in an attempt to kill her two children. Eleanor reentered the burning house to try to save Marianne… read analysis of Marianne

An elderly man whom Eleanor and Raymond help when he collapses in the middle of a crosswalk. Eleanor talks to Sammy to comfort him while Raymond waits for the ambulance to arrive. Eleanor feels concern… read analysis of Sammy Thom

Raymond’s mother. Mrs. Gibbons is a widower—Raymond’s father passed away shortly after Raymond started college—and, like Eleanor, she is acutely lonely. Mrs. Gibbons has arthritis, and Raymond visits her regularly to keep her… read analysis of Mrs. Gibbons

Sammy’s daughter. She is 35 years old, gorgeous, and runs a beauty salon. Laura is turned off by Eleanor’s strangeness at first, though she eventually takes a liking to her offbeat sense of humor… read analysis of Laura

Eleanor’s boss. Eleanor thinks he hired her because he felt bad for her—she arrived at the interview after with a black eye, missing teeth, and a broken arm—and for much of the book he… read analysis of Bob

Eleanor’s therapist. Dr. Temple helps Eleanor unpack her traumatic past and understand the consequences it has on her adult life. Under Dr. Temple’s guidance, Eleanor recovers repressed memories of the fire and of her… read analysis of Dr. Maria Temple

One of Eleanor’s coworkers. Eleanor invites Billy to attend the concert where she first sees and falls in love with the the musician. Billy reports back to Eleanor’s other coworkers the next day… read analysis of Billy

The office manager at Eleanor’s office. She and her colleagues make fun of Eleanor behind her back. According to Eleanor, Loretta has an inflated sense of self-importance and makes ugly jewelry in her spare… read analysis of Loretta

Eleanor’s cat, whom she names after Glen’s vodka, “an old friend” of hers. Glen is a gift from Raymond. Raymond’s roommate rescued Glen, who had been set on fire and left for… read analysis of Glen