Elaine Connelly Character Analysis

Paul’s companion at Georgia Pines is a fierce, compassionate woman who encourages Paul to write down his memories even if it proves to be a difficult task. Unafraid of facing danger herself, she takes various risks to help Paul. She sets off the fire alarm so that Paul might go on his walk without being seen by Brad Dolan, and, on another occasion, stands up to Dolan directly when she sees him harassing Paul. Her status as the grandmother of the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives serves as a useful protection against Dolan—an inversion of the threat of political connections that Percy wielded against Paul as a prison guard. She dies peacefully of a heart attack in her bed at the nursing home.