Olly’s Dad Character Analysis in Everything, Everything

An abusive person both physically and verbally. To the best of Olly’s knowledge, his dad first became violent about a decade before the novel begins, after he was fired from his job in New York City for possible fraud. He’s an alcoholic who drinks at least three drinks per night, and he takes issue with anything either of his children do that marks them as different. Because of this, he refuses to allow Kara to paint her nails black and a few years before the novel begins, he pulls Olly out of the mathletes and tries to get him to join football. Though he’s not physically abusive every night, he’s always verbally abusive. Much of his physical abuse is directed at Olly’s mom. Maddy notices that he seems subdued and even drunker after Olly’s mom and his children leave him. It’s unclear where he goes when he moves away.

Olly’s Dad Quotes in Everything, Everything

The Everything, Everything quotes below are all either spoken by Olly’s Dad or refer to Olly’s Dad. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Olly watched the color fade in the glass and remembered the day his dad got fired and how he’d been too afraid to comfort him. What if he had—would things be different now? What if?

He remembered how his dad had said that one thing doesn’t always lead to another.

Related Characters: Olly, Olly’s Dad

Related Symbols: Colors (Pink, Yellow, Orange)

Page Number and Citation: 109

Explanation and Analysis:

“You should leave them,” I say. “It’s not safe for you there.”

I say it because he doesn’t know it. He’s trapped by the same memory of love, of better times, that his mother is, and it isn’t enough.

Related Characters: Madeline “Maddy” Whittier (speaker), Olly, Olly’s Mom, Olly’s Dad

Page Number and Citation: 231-32

Explanation and Analysis:

He’s not sure which conversation with his mom finally convinced her. It could’ve been because he told her he couldn’t be part of the family anymore if she stayed. Sometimes you have to leave the people who love you the most, he said. Or, he says, it could’ve been when he finally told her about me and about how sick I am and how I was willing to do anything just to live. He says that she thinks I’m brave.

Related Characters: Madeline “Maddy” Whittier (speaker), Olly, Olly’s Mom, Olly’s Dad, Zach, Mom/Dr. Pauline Whittier

Page Number and Citation: 259

Explanation and Analysis:

Olly’s Dad Character Timeline in Everything, Everything

The timeline below shows where the character Olly’s Dad appears in Everything, Everything. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Maddy lists Olly’s mom’s schedule. She spends her morning on the porch, kisses Olly’s dad goodbye, gardens and discards cigarette butts, and in the evenings, begs Kara and Olly to... (full context)

Maddy says that Olly’s mom and Kara call the boy Olly, but Olly’s dad calls him Oliver. Olly’s bedroom is almost directly across from Maddy’s, and he seldom closes... (full context)

Maddy heads for her window and watches Olly’s dad grab the Bundt cake from Kara and throw it at Olly. Olly dodges and the... (full context)

...initial stands for. Maddy replies that it’s for Furukawa; Mom is Japanese American and Maddy’s dad was African American. Olly declares that they’re going to be friends. On Thursday, Maddy peppers... (full context)

On Tuesday, Maddy asks Olly if he’s okay and why Olly’s dad was so angry. Olly insists that this is his secret. The next night, neither of... (full context)

...surprising given Olly’s athleticism. He explains that he used to be a mathlete, but Olly’s dad made him quit to play football and be more manly. He says that now, he’s... (full context)

...a pair of blue shoes. Maddy makes a list of various measurements: it took Olly’s dad eight minutes to start yelling last night. He made four complaints about the overcooked roast,... (full context)

...change in a moment, that no one but possibly Maddy is innocent, and that Olly’s dad hasn’t always been this way. (full context)

Olly is 10 years old. He sits with his dad at the breakfast bar in their New York City penthouse apartment. His dad makes hot... (full context)

A few weeks before, Olly’s mom explained to Olly and Kara that Olly’s dad would be home for a while. Olly heard his parents talking about fraud and an... (full context)

Olly’s dad doesn’t get violently drunk until a few months later. He spends his day yelling at... (full context)

...they hear someone scream “stop,” they run to the window. Olly, Olly’s mom, and Olly’s dad are outside. Olly’s dad drinks and tells Olly’s mom to take the glass, but Olly... (full context)

Olly separates his parents and tries to draw Olly’s dad’s attention away from Olly’s mom. It works, and as Olly’s dad punches at Olly, he... (full context)

...up live boring lives in closets. Olly has been to Hawaii before and remembers Olly’s dad saying the airport could spend more on first impressions, but Maddy thinks that it’s not... (full context)

Olly asks Zach to borrow his phone and they briefly discuss that Olly’s dad is still controlling and awful. Zach asks Maddy what’s wrong with her parents. Maddy can’t... (full context)

Sitting on the beach, Olly tells Maddy that Olly’s dad apologized and cried after he hit Olly’s mom the first time. He says that Kara... (full context)

...Hawaii, even though he feels guilty for leaving his mom and Kara alone with Olly’s dad. Maddy says that she believes love makes people crazy, since she wouldn’t have left her... (full context)

...truck has pulled in next door. The two men talk to Olly’s mom, but Olly’s dad isn’t around. Maddy joins Carla at the window and watches Olly, Kara, and their mom... (full context)

Olly’s dad leaves for work around nine a.m. and gets home late in the evening, looking as... (full context)

Everything, Everything

Olly’s Dad Character Analysis

Olly’s Dad Quotes in Everything, Everything

33. Chaos Theory; Olly’s Formula Quotes

69. This Time Quotes

78. Neighborhood Watch #3; Five Syllables; His Last Letter is Haiku Quotes

Olly’s Dad Character Timeline in Everything, Everything