My Boy Jack Characters

Rudyard Kipling is a famous British author (and was in real life, too). An idealistic and proud man, he believes strongly in the British Empire, thinking that England’s colonial expansion has improved the lives of… read analysis of Rudyard Kipling

Jack Kipling is Rudyard and Carrie’s only son. He’s only 15 years old at the beginning of the play. Despite his youth, though, he’s eager to join the army. In this respect, he and… read analysis of John “Jack” Kipling

Carrie is Rudyard’s wife and Jack’s mother. Unlike Rudyard, she doesn’t like the idea of Jack fighting in World War I, worrying that his nearsightedness will put him in grave danger on the… read analysis of Carrie Kipling

Elsie is Rudyard and Carrie’s daughter and Jack’s older sister. An independent person, she’s used to her father ignoring her in favor of Jack. This dynamic even existed back when Josephine—her older… read analysis of Elsie “Bird” Kipling

McHugh is a member of the Irish Guards, serving alongside Bowe and Doyle. An individualistic, selfish man, he doesn’t respect the fact that Jack is his lieutenant and, as a result, often defies his… read analysis of Guardsman McHugh

Doyle is a member of the Irish Guards. Jack is his lieutenant, and Bowe and McHugh are his fellow soldiers. Along with McHugh, he stops Bowe from sneaking away to avoid battle, suggesting that he… read analysis of Guardsman Doyle

Major Sparks is the army doctor who gives Jack a physical examination to determine if he’s qualified to enlist in the army. The entire time he inspects Jack, he tries to talk to Rudyard… read analysis of Major Sparks

Colonel Pottle is an official at the Army Medical Board, where Rudyard takes Jack for a physical examination to determine if he can serve in the army. While his colleague, Major Sparks, inspects Jack… read analysis of Colonel Pottle

Mr. Frankland is a former soldier who served in the British Rifle Corps. He’s friends with Bowe because they both wound up in the same hospital while fighting in World War I. Having heard that… read analysis of Mr. Frankland

Josephine was Rudyard and Carrie’s eldest child before she died at the age of seven. Her painting now hangs in the family’s drawing room. Jack only remembers what she looked like because of this… read analysis of Josephine Kipling