Man and Superman Characters

Ann Whitefield, the eldest daughter of the recently deceased Mr. Whitefield, is the play’s female lead. She is as manipulative and calculating as she is beautiful. Though she plays the part of the docile… read analysis of Ann Whitefield/Dona Ana

Jack Tanner, the play’s male lead, is an affluent English man with radical anarchist beliefs, a fierce commitment to his moral ideals, and strong views on humanity’s potential, which he feels the social norms of… read analysis of Jack Tanner/Don Juan

Roebuck Ramsden is an affluent and well-respected aging civil reformer. He’s a family friend of the Whitefields and the Robinsons. Though he considers himself a progressive thinker, his actions tend to undermine his forward-thinking ideals… read analysis of Roebuck Ramsden/The Statue

Mendoza is the anarchist leader of the band of brigands who intercept Tanner and Straker on their drive through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A criminal with socialist leanings, he claims to “steal from the rich,”… read analysis of Mendoza/The Devil

Violet Robinson is Octavius Robinson’s sister. She is married to Hector Malone Jr. for the entirety of the play, though her husband’s identity remains unknown to the other characters until Act 4. The secrecy… read analysis of Violet Robinson

Hector Malone Jr. is a young, wealthy American man. He is married to Violet (with whom he is also expecting a child), but the couple is forced to keep their new marriage a secret due… read analysis of Hector Malone Jr.

Straker is Tanner’s chauffeur. He’s a working man—an engineer—and speaks with a cockney accent, which Tanner repeatedly mocks. A hot-tempered and somewhat bumbling character, the play typically uses Straker for comic relief, though the… read analysis of Henry Straker

Mrs. Whitefield is Ann and Rhoda’s mother and the widow of the late Mr. Whitefield. A woman of means, she fiercely upholds the conventions of polite society and doesn’t like to make a… read analysis of Mrs. Whitefield

Though Mr. Whitefield doesn’t physically appear in the play, his death sets into motion the events of the main story. In his will, Mr. Whitefield appoints two men—Tanner and Ramsden—as co-guardians of his… read analysis of Mr. Whitefield

Hector Malone Sr. is Hector Malone Jr.’s father. He’s an immensely wealthy businessman who supports his son financially, sending Hector Jr. monthly allowance payments. Malone disapproves of the English middle class and desires his… read analysis of Hector Malone Sr.

Rhoda Whitefield is Ann Whitefield’s younger sister. Their mother is Mrs. Whitefield. In Act 2, Octavius delivers a letter to Rhoda from Tanner in which Rhoda explains that she can’t go for a… read analysis of Rhoda Whitefield

Miss Ramsden is Roebuck Ramsden’s unmarried sister. An older woman, she is portrayed as the stereotypical (and pejorative) “spinster” character. After word of Violet’s pregnancy spreads before others are aware of her marriage… read analysis of Miss Susan Ramsden

Louisa is Straker’s sister. Though she doesn’t physically appear in the story, Mendoza mentions his unrequited love for her in the story that Mendoza, unaware of Straker’s relation to Louisa, tells to Straker and… read analysis of Louisa