Howard Doyle Character Analysis in Mexican Gothic

Howard Doyle is the patriarch of the Doyle family. He’s hundreds of years old; the fungus underneath High Place helped him achieve immortality through cannibalism, sacrifice, and slaughter. The first European to discover the fungus in Mexico, Howard killed the indigenous people living there and harvested the resource for himself. He then founded his family’s silver mine, treating the indigenous workers brutally and knowingly infecting them with the fungus, which made them deathly ill. He justifies his actions with the pseudoscience of eugenics—which argues that certain races are inferior to others—and with his sexist belief that women’s primary duty is birthing and raising children. Howard embodies the greed and oppressive ideologies that fueled colonialism; accordingly, High Place and the surrounding El Triunfo is in many ways a colony in miniature. Howard’s immortality allows for these hateful ideologies to persist through generations, and Noemí’s eventual triumph over him signifies a needed change in the social order of Mexico—one where the colonized have overtaken the colonizers.

Howard Doyle Quotes in Mexican Gothic

The Mexican Gothic quotes below are all either spoken by Howard Doyle or refer to Howard Doyle. 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:

Sexism, Female Independence, and Power Theme Icon

“You’ll see it. It’s all very English. Um, that’s what Uncle Howard wanted, a little piece of England. He even brought European earth here.”

Related Characters: Francis (speaker), Howard Doyle, Noemí Taboada

Page Number and Citation: 18

Explanation and Analysis:

“What are your thoughts on the intermingling of superior and inferior types?” he asked, ignoring her discomfort.

Noemi felt the eyes of all the family members on her. Her presence was a novelty and an alteration to their patterns. An organism introduced into a sterile environment. They waited to hear what she revealed and to analyze her words. Well, let them see that she could keep her cool.

Related Characters: Howard Doyle (speaker), Noemí Taboada

Page Number and Citation: 30

Explanation and Analysis:

“These are my wives,” Howard said. “Agnes passed away shortly after our arrival to this region[…] It was a long time ago. But she has not been forgotten. Her spirit lives on in High Place. And there, the one on the right, that is my second wife. Alice. She was fruitful. A woman’s function is to preserve the family line. The children, well, Virgil is the only one left, but she did her duty and she did it well.”

Related Characters: Howard Doyle (speaker), Agnes

Page Number and Citation: 75

Explanation and Analysis:

He would die, he would slide into a new body, and Francis would cease to exist. A demented cycle. Children devoured as babes, children devoured as adults. Children are but food. Food for a cruel god.

Related Characters: Noemí Taboada (speaker), Howard Doyle

Related Symbols: The Ouroboros

Page Number and Citation: 270

Explanation and Analysis:

Howard Doyle Character Timeline in Mexican Gothic

The timeline below shows where the character Howard Doyle appears in Mexican Gothic. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Noemí introduces herself and the man says that he is Francis Doyle, sent by Uncle Howard (the patriarch of the Doyle family) to pick her up. He asks many questions in... (full context)

...Doyles call their home. He says that it’s very English, which is exactly what Uncle Howard wanted. Francis asks if Noemí can speak English, because no one at High Place can... (full context)

With her back to Noemí, the woman introduces herself as Florence, Howard Doyle’s niece and Francis’s mother. She explains that she runs High Place—if Noemí needs anything,... (full context)

Virgil and Howard walk into the dining room, and Howard tells Florence that tonight they can make some... (full context)

Noemí introduces herself to Howard, who returns the courtesy. Howard then remarks on Noemí’s skin color, saying that she’s much... (full context)

Howard reveals his interest in eugenics and then asks for Noemí’s opinion on “the intermingling of... (full context)

Howard smiles, as though he’s pleased with Noemí’s answer. He quotes another anthropologist, saying that there... (full context)

...acquiesces, saying that their doctor, Arthur Cummins, comes by every Thursday to see Catalina and Howard. Noemí can speak to him then. (full context)

Francis explains that after purchasing the mine, his great uncle Howard brought English workers here to manage it. They were successful for a few years, but... (full context)

...Noemí asks why they insist on silence in High Place, and Francis tells her that Howard is very old and very sensitive to noise, and noise travels very easily in the... (full context)

...Noemí return to the house and have lunch with Florence. The meal ends quickly—Virgil and Howard do not join them. That night while lying in bed, Noemí spots a bit of... (full context)

...cursed. Yes, there was an epidemic, but that’s not where the stories end. Miss Ruth, Howard’s precious daughter, shot her own family. It’s a famous story in El Triunfo, but if... (full context)

Ruth was Howard’s daughter, his darling child who wanted for nothing. She was going to marry her cousin,... (full context)

That evening, Noemí is once again summoned to dinner with the Doyles. Howard, however, is not present. When Noemí breaks the rule of silence during dinner, Florence chastises... (full context)

...Noemí sips her wine in silence. Soon a servant walks in and informs everyone that Howard would like to see them, so they make their way up the stairs to his... (full context)

...Noemí’s eye. They each depict a young woman, and they look very similar. She asks Howard who they are, and he responds that they’re his wives. Agnes died soon after they... (full context)

...came of age, they simply dusted off Agnes’s wedding dress and gave it to her. Howard rests his hand on top of Noemí’s and begins to rub her knuckles. “My beautiful... (full context)

Howard stands and moves next to Noemí. Her escape attempt was in vain; he crowds her... (full context)

Suddenly, Howard steps back. He asks Noemí if Virgil has shown her the greenhouse yet. Virgil takes... (full context)

After their chat, Virgil leads Noemí back to the rest of the family, but Howard declares that he’s tired and wants to be left alone, so they all disband. That... (full context)

Virgil asks Noemí if Howard explained his theories on superior and inferior types. According to these theories, humans have a... (full context)

...respect. But Noemí can’t abandon Catalina. Perhaps if Virgil can’t be persuaded, she could convince Howard to rule in her favor. Or at the very least, she could try to get... (full context)

...her, since he’s afraid of upsetting his mother and even more afraid of upsetting Uncle Howard. Noemí realizes that the look of disgust she saw earlier wasn’t meant for her; Francis... (full context)

...this morning Francis knocks on her door, tray in hand. He’s helping his mother because Howard has terrible leg pain, and Florence is very busy. He asks Noemí if she would... (full context)

Florence rants on. She accuses Noemí of thinking that she has power because Howard thinks she has a pretty face. But that’s not power, it’s a liability. Florence looks... (full context)

When Howard Doyle reopened the mine, it was big news; people came from all over Hidalgo for... (full context)

A few years after the first epidemic, Howard remarried, and that’s when things began to turn sour. There was a second sickness, which... (full context)

The mine went on, Howard remarried, and his new wife gave birth to a girl, Ruth. Years passed. Aurelio’s nephew,... (full context)

Marta continues her story. After Howard found out, Ruth was punished. Benito vanished. Some said he ran off, others said Howard... (full context)

...finds one hidden behind a clump of weeds. Agnes Doyle. Mother. 1885. That was all Howard had chosen to commemorate his first wife. It seems odd to Noemí that Doyle would... (full context)

...in the tincture that Catalina drank. Francis reluctantly agrees; he’s tired, they all are. Uncle Howard has been keeping them awake at night. (full context)

...purplish circles under his eyes. She imagines Francis and the others having to care for Howard’s withered body late into the night. She asks Francis about Howard’s old wound—what was the... (full context)

...Virgil’s bedroom. The first thing she notices upon entering is the large, imposing painting of Howard hanging in the room. Virgil is getting dressed behind a three-fold when Noemí walks in.... (full context)

...rustic mansion that could be changed, rescued from its decay. But of course, Virgil explains, Howard would never allow anything to be changed. They all exist at his pleasure. (full context)

...married Catalina, and he explains that it was his father’s wish to see him married. Howard wanted to know that the family line would not die out. Virgil then reveals that... (full context)

...for him—"our lord and master. Our God”. It’s up to Ruth to save everyone. Killing Howard won’t be murder, it’ll be salvation. He mercilessly beat Ruth when he found out about... (full context)

...moan interrupts their conversation. Francis grimaces, as if in pain, and tells Noemí that Uncle Howard is having another rough night. She attempts to console Francis, telling him that she’s sorry... (full context)

...not much better. After the meal, Virgil announces that they’ll be heading upstairs to visit Howard, who is expecting them. Noemí tries to make conversation and asks about the mine. Was... (full context)

Virgil’s revelation about the mine annoys Noemí. She wants to get this visit with Howard over with so that she can go to bed. The group proceeds to Howard’s room,... (full context)

...she’s in a cave. There are other people too. She sees a man who resembles Howard being handed a cup and drinking deeply from it. He stumbles after he drinks. A... (full context)

...stands before her. How could Noemí ever have liked this man? He tells her that Howard has sent him here to explain the situation. He’s going to tell her a story,... (full context)

A long time ago, Howard found a fungus that can extend human life. That fungus now runs all through the... (full context)

Noemí asks Francis what Howard did to her. He tells her that most people who come into contact with the... (full context)

...been kept pure in order to maintain their relationship with the fungus. In this way, Howard has survived for three hundred years. Francis says that Howard is their God, and he... (full context)

Noemí asks about Francis’s father, Richard. Francis responds that after Howard was shot, he slowly began to heal himself. It was then difficult, in recent generations,... (full context)

...An altar is covered in candles. Red tapestries depicting the ouroboros hang from the ceiling. Howard Doyle stands before the altar, and next to him is the woman from the caves,... (full context)

...weave its way into the foundations of the building. The gloom needs a mind, and Howard is no fool who’s willing to offer himself in sacrifice. The gloom is alive, and... (full context)

...fine, he says, nothing but a couple of scrapes. But if she damaged her face, Howard would have been mad. Noemí notices that Dr. Cummins looks like a Doyle, and the... (full context)

The doctor stands up and tells Francis that he must talk some sense into Noemí. Howard will not tolerate this sort of behavior. He leaves the room. Francis grabs the tray... (full context)

Francis continues to explain his plan. Uncle Howard is going to die soon, there’s no stopping it. Once his body gives way, he’ll... (full context)

...time for them to run. Noemí asks what he means, and he tells her that Howard wants Francis and Noemí to marry and have children. Noemí inquires what will happened if... (full context)

...Ruth’s shoulder. Ruth begins to sob as she tells Noemí that she has to kill Howard. He will never let her escape. That was Ruth’s mistake, she didn’t do it right.... (full context)

...soon. Noemí asks why they’re even bothering with the ceremony, and Virgil tells her that Howard is a stickler for ceremonies. But she should consider herself lucky: if Virgil was in... (full context)

...looks displeasing, perhaps they should call off the wedding? It’s much too late, Florence responds. Howard’s appetite has been whetted. She says that all this talk of fitness and blood is... (full context)

...groan resounds throughout the house. Francis tells Noemí that the transmigration must take place soon. Howard’s body is falling apart; it’s never healed right since Ruth shot him. Then Francis reveals... (full context)

...Doyle to leave High Place and never return. Is that possible? Ruth tells her that Howard is strong. When she tried to escape, he knew something was wrong, and he sent... (full context)

...Francis’s wedding occurs in reverse: first comes the banquet, then comes the ceremony. All but Howard and Dr. Cummins gather in the dining room for the meal. The Doyles have laid... (full context)

After dinner, the group proceeds to Howard’s bedroom for the ceremony. The old man is covered in pustules, and the room smells... (full context)

Howard hands them both a mushroom and tells them to eat. They do, and then they... (full context)

...forms a puddle on the floor, and it reminds Noemí of the black bile that Howard spit down her throat. A wave of disgust overtakes her body, and she thinks of... (full context)

...read savage murder. Noemí drops her knife, and Florence marches the three of them to Howard’s room. The old man lies in his bed, propped up by a number of pillows... (full context)

Howard begins reciting a series of words in Latin. Francis is whimpering, his lips moving softly... (full context)

...no one notices Catalina sneak behind the doctor and grab his scalpel. She moves toward Howard, and her expression changes to naked hatred. She stabs Howard in the eye, then again... (full context)

...bright with tears and he’s shivering. He stumbles toward Noemí, shaking his head, and then Howard lets out a terrible groan. He holds out his hands, commanding Francis to approach the... (full context)

Howard slides an amber ring off of his finger and holds it up for Francis. Noemí... (full context)

...pain, and very out of breath, so Noemí takes the lead. The house reverberates with Howard’s moans—somehow, impossibly, he’s still alive. Noemí slides open the hidden door, revealing an ornate stairway... (full context)

...upon a stone dais, and Noemí walks toward it. She finds the jeweled dagger that Howard used to kill children as part of his cannibalistic rituals. Francis tells her that their... (full context)

...nobody came. Nobody was supposed to come. This is the way it was supposed to be—Howard needed her to do this. The fungus needed her. The mushrooms themselves could heal, but... (full context)

...take the tincture from his pocket. He planned for her to cause mayhem and hurt Howard. He couldn’t do it himself because Howard had too much control over him. He forced... (full context)

...burn, and she lets the knife drop to the floor. Virgil looks around with distaste. Howard was caught in the past, he says, but he looks forward to the future. He’s... (full context)

...dropped and stabs her husband in the face, piercing his eye—just like she did to Howard. Noemí picks up Francis and demands that Catalina help her. They each take one of... (full context)

...their way down the mountain. They see that High Place is burning, and Noemí imagines Howard Doyle lying immobile in his bed, the fire consuming him inch by inch. (full context)

Mexican Gothic

Howard Doyle Character Analysis

Howard Doyle Quotes in Mexican Gothic

Chapter 2 Quotes

Chapter 3 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 25 Quotes

Howard Doyle Character Timeline in Mexican Gothic