Larry is Theo’s father. A failed actor and alcoholic, Larry never treats either Audrey or Theo particularly well, and he abandons them months before Audrey dies. Theo later realizes that, during this time, Larry moved to Las Vegas with his girlfriend, Xandra, and began professionally gambling. Shortly after Audrey’s death, Larry reappears to collect Theo and bring him to live in Vegas. While at first Theo is optimistic that Larry might be trying to reconnect with him, it ultimately turns out that Larry believed Theo was left a “fortune” in Audrey’s will, money which he tries to steal in order to pay his gambling debts. Although Larry can be charming, he is overall a fairly morally corrupt character. He is selfish, cruel, and avoids responsibility for his actions. These traits are exacerbated by his alcohol, gambling, and opiate addictions. He ends up dying in a drunk-driving accident while trying to escape his debts (and once again abandoning his family).
Larry Decker Quotes in The Goldfinch
The The Goldfinch quotes below are all either spoken by Larry Decker or refer to Larry Decker. 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:
).
Part 2, Chapter 6
Quotes
That was your father that died. Your own father. And you act like it was, I don’t know, I’d say the dog, but not even the dog. Because I know you’d care if it was the dog got hit by a car, at least I think you would.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Goldfinch LitChart as a printable PDF.
Larry Decker Quotes in The Goldfinch
The The Goldfinch quotes below are all either spoken by Larry Decker or refer to Larry Decker. 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:
).
Part 2, Chapter 6
Quotes
That was your father that died. Your own father. And you act like it was, I don’t know, I’d say the dog, but not even the dog. Because I know you’d care if it was the dog got hit by a car, at least I think you would.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
