Severance Character Analysis

Candace Chen

Candace is the protagonist and narrator of Severance. In the story’s present, Candace joins a group of fellow survivors headed to a mysterious “Facility” thought to be a safe haven. Before the pandemic, as… read analysis of Candace Chen

Jonathan

Jonathan is Candace’s longtime boyfriend in New York and the father of her unborn child. He is from a small town in Southern Illinois and was the first of his family to leave. Before… read analysis of Jonathan

Bob

Bob is the self-appointed leader of the group of survivors that find Candace after her escape from New York. Before the Shen Fever outbreak, Bob worked in informational technology and was an avid gamer. He… read analysis of Bob

Ruifang Yang (Candace’s Mother)

Ruifang Yang is Candace’s mother. She immigrated to the U.S. after her husband, Zhigang, got a job teaching economics at a university in Salt Lake City. Ruifang was forced to leave behind a… read analysis of Ruifang Yang (Candace’s Mother)

Zhigang Chen (Candace’s Father)

Zhigang Chen is Candace’s father. Zhigang and his wife Ruifang immigrated to the U.S. amid the rise of authoritarianism in China in the 1980s. Zhigang, an academic who feared persecution in China, found a… read analysis of Zhigang Chen (Candace’s Father)

Steven Reitman

Steven Reitman is a writer and TV pundit that Candace has a relationship with when she first arrives in New York. Steven is much older than Candace, and the morning after they first have sex… read analysis of Steven Reitman

Michael Reitman

Michael Reitman is the brother of Steven. He’s the CEO of Spectra, where Candace later works. Michael’s employees, Steven, and Michael himself repeatedly describe Michael as a “family man.” However, Candace feels uncomfortable around… read analysis of Michael Reitman

Blythe

Blythe is initially Candace’s boss at Spectra, working as production manager for the Bibles division. A couple weeks after Candace starts at Spectra, the two travel to China to oversee the production of a… read analysis of Blythe

Janelle

Janelle is one of the survivors. Alongside Ashley and Evan, Janelle forms a smaller group, which Candace later joins. While not quite friends, the group of four share a car in their caravan and… read analysis of Janelle

Evan

Evan is part of the group of survivors. Initially, Evan is one of the people Candace is closest to. He is part of the smaller group of survivors, which includes Janelle and Ashley. The… read analysis of Evan

Ashley

Ashley is a member of the group of survivors. She forms a smaller friend group with Janelle, Evan, and Candace. After a few “baby-stalks” during the journey to the Facility… read analysis of Ashley

Balthasar

Balthasar is a representative for manufacturing at Phoenix Sun & Moon Ltd. and the main contact for projects with Spectra. Candace first meets Balthasar on her first trip to China with Blythe, where Balthasar… read analysis of Balthasar

Eddie

Eddie is a taxi driver Candace meets during the height of the pandemic when New York is mostly abandoned. Candace had been avoiding taxis and enclosed spaces with men in general due to the lack… read analysis of Eddie

Bing Bing

Bing Bing is Candace’s closest cousin from China. The two spent their childhood together in Fuzhou, and Candace associates Bing Bing with the “Fuzhou Nighttime Feeling” that she remembers so vividly from that time… read analysis of Bing Bing

Lane

Lane, along with Blythe and Delilah, is one of the “Art Girls” at Spectra. One summer, after getting drinks with Blythe and Lane, Candace goes back with them to Lane’s apartment and is struck… read analysis of Lane

Jane

Jane is a friend of Candace’s from college and her first roommate in New York. Jane and Candace throw a dinner party together after Candace receives a box of her mother’s things, including… read analysis of Jane

Rachel

Rachel is a member of the group of survivors. Although not a part of the smaller friend group with Ashley and Janelle, Rachel takes pity on Candace after Bob imprisons her at the Facility… read analysis of Rachel

Minor Characters

Delilah

Delilah is one of the “Art Girls” at Spectra that Candace both despises and envies. Delilah also remains in person in the Spectra offices whole everyone goes remote. Eventually she flees the city with Blythe to a family home in Connecticut.

Adam

Adam is one of the survivors who discover Candace. Alongside Todd, Adam serves as henchman to Bob, doing everything he says without question. The only time he ever speaks to Candace is when she escapes at the end of the novel.

Genevieve

Genevieve is a member of the group of survivors. She is very loyal to Bob and remains distant from Candace.

Todd

Todd is a member of the group of survivors. He, alongside Adam, is one of Bob’s key enforcers.

Manny

Manny is the doorman at the office building where Spectra is located. He is warm and kind to Candace, and he always has fresh fruit in his desk.

Carole

Carole is part of the HR department at Spectra. She heads the company’s various all-hands meetings about Shen Fever in the early days of the pandemic. Later, she offers Candace the contract to remain at Spectra in person while everyone else transitions to remote work.

Edgar

Edgar is Balthasar’s coworker at Phoenix Sun & Moon.

Luna

Luna is the name of Candace’s unborn daughter. Candace comes up with the name due to Luna’s movements in utero, which mostly take place at night.

Severance Characters