Milligan Character Analysis in The Mysterious Benedict Society

Milligan is a former government agent who works as a guard for Mr. Benedict, Number Two, and Rhonda. He lost his memory at the hands of Mr. Curtain, and he initially sought out Mr. Benedict in the hopes that Mr. Benedict could restore his memory. Though Mr. Benedict could not help, Milligan remained with him out of a sense of duty. His memory loss has robbed him of all hope, so duty is all that drives him. When the children see Milligan outside of Mr. Benedict’s house, he is usually in disguise, but they can identify him by his expression of intense sadness. This helps them recognize him when he arrives at the Institute, seeking to help them in their mission. He gives himself up to the Executives to throw suspicion off the children, and the Executives imprison him in the Waiting Room. During his escape attempt, Milligan’s memory returns. He realizes that he is Kate’s father, and that his name comes from a fractured memory of her asking to return to the mill pond where he taught her to swim—to go to the “mill again.” This realization incentivizes him to escape and save his daughter. Once he and Kate are reunited, he becomes a doting father and a genuinely happy man.

Milligan Quotes in The Mysterious Benedict Society

The The Mysterious Benedict Society quotes below are all either spoken by Milligan or refer to Milligan. 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:

“Do you suppose we’re going to meet anybody normal today?” Kate asked.

“I’m beginning to doubt it,” Reynie said.

Related Characters: Reynie Muldoon (speaker), Kate Wetherall (speaker), Number Two, Milligan, Rhonda Kazembe

Page Number and Citation: 50

Explanation and Analysis:

Milligan Character Timeline in The Mysterious Benedict Society

The timeline below shows where the character Milligan appears in The Mysterious Benedict Society. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...he is not alright, but that isn’t relevant. He tells the children his name is Milligan, and he is here to administer the third test. (full context)

Milligan asks which child is George, prompting Sticky to reveal that his real name is George... (full context)

...handle of the opposite door. She walks across the tightrope and reaches the door, but Milligan stops her and tells her she has to try again without the rope. Kate returns... (full context)

As the children follow Milligan through a dark underground passage, Sticky asks Reynie how he passed. Sticky crossed on his... (full context)

Milligan leads the children out of the underground passage, and when they emerge, the sunlight briefly... (full context)

...the tests. He asks Number Two––the pencil woman, who only goes by her codename––to meet Milligan and “our missing young friend.” As Number Two departs, Mr. Benedict offers to answer any... (full context)

Constance comes in with Milligan and Number Two, but she is so tiny that the other children almost don’t notice... (full context)

The children rise early on a stormy day, and Milligan and Rhonda serve them breakfast. Constance is especially cranky since she’s hungry, and her face... (full context)

...she turns it on, Constance is gone. The remaining children run to the landing, where Milligan is waiting, but Constance is not there. Milligan needs to search the maze to see... (full context)

...hear Constance cry out in pain, and then a man whispers that he has her. Milligan leads the children in that direction, but when they arrive, the intruders corner them. Reynie... (full context)

Milligan obeys the men’s command to raise his hands above his head, only to suddenly run... (full context)

...which surprises everyone. Kate remarks that they are a depressing group, and Constance asks why Milligan is so sad. They look to the bodyguard, who is standing watch in the yard,... (full context)

The children push Milligan for more information. They correctly guess that he woke up on Nomansan Island, and that... (full context)

...the Institute for as long as he can remember. Reynie realizes that the Helpers, like Milligan and the missing government agents, have had their memories stolen by Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain... (full context)

...they could see him. Kate looks through the spyglass again and realizes the man is Milligan in disguise. They realize this must be the “enemy” they should know. Sticky signals to... (full context)

The children quickly sneak through the nights and meet Milligan. He looks and even smells like a Recruiter, but his lack of a smile gives... (full context)

Reynie thanks Milligan, but he says that he plans to stay. Kate hugs Reynie and says the same.... (full context)

Reynie goes to leave a note for Milligan on the shore. He also brings a sketch of the island, and if he is... (full context)

...at S.Q., snatched the paper, and ate it. The spy, who the children know is Milligan, was caught, and he has confessed to being a lone operator. A group of Executives... (full context)

...most of the Institutes’ students to become sick, but the children are too worried about Milligan to celebrate. They signal to Mr. Benedict that Milligan has been captured, and the response... (full context)

Kate sleeps poorly that night as she thinks about Milligan’s sacrifice. She is further irritated by a honking from the mainland, until she realizes the... (full context)

...beat Kate until someone approaches from behind. All three attackers fall to the ground, revealing Milligan with his tranquilizer gun. He is covered in slimy black mud from the Waiting Room,... (full context)

...in through the window. She is wounded but cheerful, and she tells the others that Milligan is her father. He disappeared years ago because he was captured, and he has left... (full context)

...he will soon beat the little girl. A boom comes from behind the wall, and Milligan cries out for Kate. He is in a passage with a hidden door, and Reynie... (full context)

The door opens, and Milligan runs in to hug Kate. Reynie and Sticky rush to help Constance, but she is... (full context)

Milligan lays the sleeping Mr. Curtain on the floor as Rhonda ushers the children to the... (full context)

...their way through the passage and out to the shore, where a boat is waiting. Milligan drops Mr. Curtain on the ground to help the children into the boat. Everyone is... (full context)

...Whisperer, and Rhonda answers that Mr. Benedict has instructed them all to go into hiding. Milligan expertly navigates the boat to the mainland, but Constance shouts at him for leaving Mr.... (full context)

Before he leaves to retrieve Mr. Benedict, Milligan tells the story of escaping the Waiting Room. In the story, Milligan holds his breath... (full context)

...mission to rescue Mr. Benedict, which is “not just dangerous—hopeless.” She fiercely insists that either Milligan will stay with her, or she will go with him. Reynie alerts everyone to Mr.... (full context)

...Once they are gone, Mr. Curtain rises from his wheelchair and approaches the station wagon. Milligan aims his tranquilizer gun at Mr. Curtain, but Reynie stops him, revealing Mr. Curtain to... (full context)

...successfully convinces governmental officials to raid the Institute. His claims are finally credible now that Milligan remembers the government passwords of his days as a secret agent; further, Kate stole Mr.... (full context)

...returned home. Kate asks how Mr. Benedict found the secret exit, and Mr. Benedict explains Milligan found it. Kate teases that “it’s always about entrances and exits” with Milligan, and he... (full context)

Milligan Character Analysis

Milligan Quotes in The Mysterious Benedict Society

Chapter 3 Quotes

Milligan Character Timeline in The Mysterious Benedict Society