Campbell Alexander Character Analysis in My Sister’s Keeper

Campbell Alexander is Anna’s attorney, representing her in her petition for medical emancipation. A wealthy lawyer interested in bolstering his own reputation, he initially refuses to take on Anna’s case but, intrigued by her situation, decides to represent her pro bono. Campbell and Anna often butt heads during her case due to Anna’s fickleness and lack of communication with Campbell, but he gradually softens towards her and defends her fervently in court. Campbell also has a tense relationship with Julia, Anna’s guardian ad litem, due to a relationship in high school that Campbell abruptly ended, breaking Julia’s heart. For much of the novel, Campbell refuses to tell her or anyone else the reason that he’s isolated himself from other people: when he was 18, he suffered a concussion in a car crash and developed epilepsy as a result, which is why he keeps his service dog Judge. This backstory comes out when Campbell suffers a seizure during court, forcing him to confess the truth to Julia afterwards; she responds by telling him that she wants to be with him, repairing their relationship. Campbell successfully wins Anna her emancipation, but on the drive home from the courthouse, the two get in a terrible accident that leaves Anna brain-dead. Because Campbell has been granted medical power of attorney for Anna, he gives her kidney to Kate. The epilogue reveals that Campbell marries Julia but falls out of contact with the Fitzgeralds due to everyone’s grief over Anna.

Campbell Alexander Quotes in My Sister’s Keeper

The My Sister’s Keeper quotes below are all either spoken by Campbell Alexander or refer to Campbell Alexander . 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:

I tap my pen on the desk, and Judge—my dog—sidles closer. “What happens if you don’t give your sister a kidney?”

“She’ll die.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

Anna’s mouth is set in a thin line. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are. I’m just trying to figure out what made you want to put your foot down, after all this time.”

She looks over at the bookshelf. “Because,” she says simply, “it never stops.”

Related Characters: Campbell Alexander (speaker), Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald (speaker), Kate Fitzgerald

Page Number and Citation: 22

Explanation and Analysis:

“Anna,” I say, at the exact same moment as Sara Fitzgerald.

It is my responsibility to explain to Anna that Judge DeSalvo wants a few minutes in private. I need to coach her, so that she says the right things, so that the judge doesn’t throw the case out before she gets what she wants. She is my client; by definition, she is supposed to follow my counsel.

But when I call her name, she turns toward her mother.

Related Characters: Campbell Alexander (speaker), Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald, Sara Fitzgerald

Page Number and Citation: 84

Explanation and Analysis:

“Do you have kids?” Anna asks.

I laugh. “What do you think?”

“It’s probably a good thing,” she admits. “No offense, but you don’t exactly look like a parent.”

This fascinates me. “What do parents look like?”

She seems to think about this. “You know about how the tightrope guy at the circus wants everyone to believe his act is an art, but deep down you can see that he’s really just hoping he makes it all the way across? Like that.”

Related Characters: Campbell Alexander (speaker), Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 124

Explanation and Analysis:

You might remember the recent case of the firefighters in Worcester, Massachusetts, who were killed in a blaze started by a homeless woman. She knew the fire had started and she left the building, but she never called 911 because she thought she might get into trouble. Six men died that night, and yet the State couldn’t hold this woman responsible, because in America—even if the consequences are tragic—you are not responsible for someone else’s safety. You aren’t obligated to help anyone in distress. Not if you’re the one who started the fire, not if you’re a passerby to a car wreck, not if you’re a perfectly matched donor.

Related Characters: Campbell Alexander (speaker), Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald

Page Number and Citation: 293-294

Explanation and Analysis:

Can you tell me what the right answer is here? […] Because I don’t know where to look for it. I know what’s right. I know what’s fair. But neither of those apply here. I can sit, and I can think about it, and I can tell you what should be and what ought to be. I can even tell you there’s got to be a better solution. But it’s been thirteen years, Mr. Alexander, and I still haven’t found it.

Related Characters: Brian Fitzgerald (speaker), Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald, Campbell Alexander , Kate Fitzgerald

Page Number and Citation: 346

Explanation and Analysis:

Campbell Alexander Character Timeline in My Sister’s Keeper

The timeline below shows where the character Campbell Alexander appears in My Sister’s Keeper. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...(which remains unclear). After counting her money, she reads newspaper clippings about a man named Campbell Alexander, who she says has a good track record. (full context)

Jesse drives Anna to Campbell Alexander, Esquire’s office, agreeing to wait for her in the parking lot. Campbell’s office is... (full context)

Campbell’s office is full of books, and his desk is extremely neat. However, Anna is intrigued... (full context)

Anna steps towards Campbell’s dog and notices it’s wearing a vest with a red cross on it. She reaches... (full context)

Anna takes out her newspaper clippings and asks Campbell if he really sued God. Campbell explains that no, he didn’t. He sued Providence’s Diocese... (full context)

Campbell reflects on how his father, the first Campbell Alexander, used to say that “when you... (full context)

Anna waits patiently for Campbell’s response. Campbell, upon hearing that she wants to sue for bodily autonomy, immediately decides to... (full context)

Kerri arrives with the Planned Parenthood phone number, but Campbell closes the door in her face—a move that, in retrospect, he views as having chosen... (full context)

Campbell states that she must have consented to these procedures, but Anna claims that nobody ever... (full context)

...if she doesn’t donate her kidney, to which Anna answers that Kate will die. When Campbell asks her if she’s okay with that and why she’s choosing now of all times... (full context)

After Anna leaves, Campbell walks out to the reception area, where Kerri tells him that his mother claims his... (full context)

While on the phone, Campbell thinks about how everyone is beholden to their parents, but the question is how much.... (full context)

Campbell can see the street through the window, so he people-watches while waiting for his order.... (full context)

Campbell arrives at the office, immediately barking orders to Kerri. Anna is already there, polishing his... (full context)

Campbell recalls the first time he sailed in a yacht club race with his father. His... (full context)

Campbell describes the bumper stickers around town that memorialize the victims of drunk drivers, which he... (full context)

Campbell arrives at the courthouse and—after deflecting a bailiff’s curiosity about Judge—finds Sara, Brian, and Anna.... (full context)

Campbell enters Judge DeSalvo’s chambers. The judge briefly asks about Judge, but Campbell quickly moves past... (full context)

Judge DeSalvo asks Campbell when he last spoke with his client. When Campbell answers that she was in his... (full context)

...which makes Anna imagine her insides dissolving. The judge asks her about her intentions, since Campbell and Sara are both saying different things about what she wants. Anna asks him if... (full context)

Judge DeSalvo tells Campbell and Sara that he’ll be appointing a guardian ad litem to spend two weeks with... (full context)

Julia goes to Campbell’s law firm and barges past Kerri into his office. He doesn’t look up at first,... (full context)

Campbell gets in an argument over the phone with the principal of a local high school... (full context)

Julia asks about Judge and attempts to pet him before Campbell tells her that he’s a service dog. Before she can ask for details, he turns... (full context)

In a flashback, Campbell describes his high school: The Wheeler School, a private academy largely full of rich kids,... (full context)

One day, Campbell skips sailing practice and follows Julia to a cemetery. She quickly senses his presence and... (full context)

In the present, Campbell comes out to the reception area. Kerri informs Campbell that Julia has left a harshly-worded... (full context)

Campbell goes to the Fitzgerald house. He tries to tell himself his decision to do so... (full context)

Campbell goes to visit Julia. She opens the door a crack and appears to have been... (full context)

Campbell tries to make amends with Julia, but she’s still furious with him for abruptly leaving.... (full context)

The two of them have some wine. Julia explains to Campbell that he never met Izzy because their parents could only afford to send one of... (full context)

The previous night, after Campbell’s departure, Izzy comes out to the living room and criticizes Julia for being drawn back... (full context)

...stays at the bar for three hours, eventually breaking down in tears after confessing that Campbell used to call her Jewel. She tells Seven that she used to have pink hair,... (full context)

Julia reflects on her relationship with Campbell, which confused everyone around them. Although most people thought it was because she was promiscuous,... (full context)

Julia blames Campbell for the fact that she has had bad luck with men ever since being with... (full context)

Inside the courthouse, Sara and Campbell argue while Anna and Brian sit in silence on a bench. Julia arrives and asks... (full context)

Campbell talks to the reporters outside the courthouse, then heads to Judge DeSalvo’s chambers, where the... (full context)

Julia tells Campbell she wants to talk to him, but she helps Sara leave the building out the... (full context)

Campbell goes to the hospital to talk to the psychiatrist Dr. Peter Bergen, who serves as... (full context)

In a flashback to high school, Julia and Campbell are in the locker room arguing about the Virgin Mary. Campbell suggests that Mary just... (full context)

Back in the present, Campbell runs into Julia in the elevator on his way back from Bergen’s office. Julia is... (full context)

At the restaurant, Campbell briefly thinks back to when his mother tried to guess the identity of his girlfriend;... (full context)

In a flashback, Campbell takes Julia to his house to meet his parents. He hasn’t told her anything about... (full context)

Julia asks Campbell about Judge; Campbell tells her that he translates for Campbell’s Spanish-speaking clients. Julia expresses irritation... (full context)

Julia and Campbell drive to the station together. Anna is there. She begs Campbell to help Jesse, who... (full context)

In a flashback, Campbell recalls how his graduation day was overrun with a horde of locusts. The ceremony is... (full context)

Campbell muses on how lawyers have to perform immoral acts in order to act ethically for... (full context)

In a flashback to two weeks after graduation, Campbell finds a note from Julia under his windshield. The two meet in the cemetery. Julia... (full context)

Campbell drives Anna home. He lectures her on the events of the day, telling her that... (full context)

Campbell arrives at the station with Anna, and Brian welcomes him upstairs for coffee. Campbell asks... (full context)

Back with Campbell, Brian offers him a second cup of coffee, which Campbell declines. Brian tells Campbell not... (full context)

...with Anna admitting that her family doesn’t talk about it. She asks if Julia thinks Campbell is cute, which shocks Julia, and she says that he looks like a character on... (full context)

At Campbell’s firm, Campbell and Anna meet Sara at the latter’s request. Brian is there as well.... (full context)

Julia asks Izzy if she thinks Julia likes Campbell “because he’s an asshole, or in spite of it.” Izzy is watching a movie and... (full context)

Campbell drives Julia to the edge of the water, but Julia doesn’t see a restaurant. Julia... (full context)

Julia and Campbell have dinner on a sailboat, and it becomes clear to Julia that Campbell is stalling... (full context)

Campbell wakes next to Julia in the sailboat. He looks at her, noticing the little details... (full context)

At the courthouse, the front steps are overrun with reporters. Campbell fights his way in and finds Sara, who’s joined shortly by Brian. None of them... (full context)

Sara and Campbell arrive at Kate’s hospital room to find Anna curled up at the foot of the... (full context)

On the drive to court, Campbell pulls over and asks Anna why they’re doing this lawsuit. Anna asks him why he... (full context)

Judge DeSalvo is displeased by Campbell and Anna being late, but Campbell makes up an excuse about Judge having a vet... (full context)

As the hearing begins, Campbell gives an opening statement (much to the chagrin of Judge DeSalvo). He tells the court... (full context)

Campbell calls Sara as his first witness. He tries to get her declared as a hostile... (full context)

During the recess, Campbell brings Anna to a conference room to check in with her. She reflects on how... (full context)

Back in court, Campbell calls Dr. Bergen. The doctor explains the premise of a medical ethics committee. In response... (full context)

Campbell asks Dr. Bergen straight-out if he believes it’s ethical for Anna to be asked to... (full context)

Sara comes up to question Dr. Bergen after Campbell. She asks him to outline the process of coming up with a plan of action... (full context)

Judge DeSalvo calls a second recess. Anna goes to follow Campbell out of the courtroom when she feels Sara tug down her t-shirt, which is riding... (full context)

Campbell’s next witness is Dr. Chance. At Campbell’s pressing, the doctor explains how the Fitzgeralds conceived... (full context)

Campbell and Anna are eating lunch during recess when Julia joins them to check on Anna.... (full context)

Court adjourns that afternoon. Campbell brings Anna out to find Brian, but he’s gone, so Campbell offers to drive her... (full context)

Brian, Campbell’s key witness, is testifying today. He shows up early with Anna wearing his captain’s uniform.... (full context)

Brian takes the stand. Campbell leads him into discussing how he was not always comfortable with Anna’s donations, particularly how... (full context)

Judge DeSalvo calls for a 10-minute recess before Sara cross-examines Brian. Campbell and Anna go downstairs, where Anna says that she’s never seen her dad cry and... (full context)

...sink and breaking it, she sinks to the ground and begins crying. Izzy asks what Campbell did, and Julia answers that he did the same thing as always. Izzy asks how... (full context)

When Julia gets to the courthouse, Judge runs to her and drags her over to Campbell, who is arguing loudly with Anna over her refusal to take the stand. Anna storms... (full context)

Judge jumps on Campbell, drawing the latter’s attention to Julia. She tells him that he shouldn’t be surprised that... (full context)

As court convenes, Campbell’s hands are trembling from the nerves of calling Julia. However, Sara requests to call her... (full context)

Campbell cross-examines Dr. Neaux. He asks her what sort of psychological harm Anna will sustain if,... (full context)

Julia takes the stand; she watches Campbell’s hands tremble. He asks her what her recommendation is. Julia looks at Anna and says... (full context)

In a flashback to after her breakup with Campbell, Julia is inconsolable and is barely getting out of bed. Finally, she musters the energy... (full context)

Campbell feels confident that Julia isn’t going to veto his petition. At his side, Judge is... (full context)

...She looks at her parents and thinks of sitting back down, but then she sees Campbell, who is sweating and has dilated pupils. He comes up to confer with her and... (full context)

Campbell asks Anna if she ever told anyone she didn’t want to be a donor. Judge... (full context)

...cultures look for shapes in the dark spots, not the light. As he’s thinking this, Campbell collapses and begins to have a seizure. (full context)

Brian takes care of Campbell through his grand mal seizure with the help of Judge, who brings him a bite... (full context)

Campbell comes to. Brian helps him to Judge DeSalvo’s quarters and explains that he had a... (full context)

As Julia walks towards Campbell, he wearily tells her that Judge is a seizure dog. She tells him that she... (full context)

Campbell can’t make it upstairs to the conference rooms, so Anna meets him in the men’s... (full context)

Back in the courtroom, Campbell gets a refresher as to what Anna said from the transcriptionist, then asks Anna to... (full context)

Sara comes up to the stand, but Brian pulls her back. Campbell asks Anna why she was willing to take an action that would kill the sister... (full context)

...she hates herself and wants to go back to doing exactly what’s expected of her. Campbell gently asks Anna why she thought Kate was ready to die. Anna answers that Kate... (full context)

Judge DeSalvo emerges, tells everyone that closing will be the next morning, then leaves. Campbell offers to have Sara take Anna home, then leaves. Anna asks to see Kate, so... (full context)

The morning sees heavy rain. Campbell gets up, and though he knows he should be preparing for his case, he watches... (full context)

Campbell delivers his closing statement. He argues that the case is not really about bodily autonomy... (full context)

During a recess, Campbell takes Judge for a walk in a little bit of greenspace by the courthouse. A... (full context)

Campbell drives Anna to the hospital. They had to stay after to fill out paperwork at... (full context)

...at which point Brian realizes a horrible truth: Anna is the passenger. He frantically extracts Campbell and reaches for Anna, punching Red when he tries to intervene. They get her into... (full context)

...facts, but is unsure how much he should tell her about Anna’s lack of responsiveness. Campbell emerges, beaten and bloodied, furiously asking where Anna is. He sees Brian, and Brian’s expression... (full context)

...over them. She wonders if she knows that the Fitzgeralds stayed close to Julia and Campbell and went to their wedding, but eventually had to drift apart due to the pain... (full context)

My Sister’s Keeper

Campbell Alexander Character Analysis

Campbell Alexander Quotes in My Sister’s Keeper

2. Monday: Campbell Quotes

7. Wednesday: Campbell Quotes

12. Wednesday: Campbell Quotes

30. Monday: Campbell Quotes

36. Tuesday: Campbell Quotes

Campbell Alexander Character Timeline in My Sister’s Keeper