Kathleen Beckett
Kathleen is one of the main characters. She is a complex character who embodies both strength and vulnerability. As a former tennis athlete, she is portrayed as someone who has always been tall, confident, and in control.
Her early life was marked by isolation as an only child in a house too large for three, which led to self-reliance and independence. Kathleen’s experiences on the tennis court, where she found both purpose and admiration, have a lingering influence on her. She constantly battles with the limitations of her post-athletic life.
Her marriage to Virgil provides comfort but lacks the passion she might have experienced in her youth, especially with her first love, Billy Blasko. This emotional dissatisfaction leads her to a forbidden and unexpected encounter with Cosmo, which reveals her feelings of loneliness and unmet desires.
Virgil Beckett
Virgil is the other main character and the husband to Kathleen. He is a conflicted and deeply introspective character. He begins as a man comfortable in his role as a husband and father but is soon confronted with doubts about life and his relationship with his wife. His interactions with his father, Coke, are fraught with tension, especially as Coke casts suspicion on Nathaniel’s paternity.
His struggle with fidelity and identity becomes apparent through his affairs, which he attempts to justify as minor indiscretions. Despite this, he shows concern for his wife, trying to maintain some semblance of family life. However, his emotional detachment and reliance on alcohol complicate his relationship with Kathleen.
Nathaniel Beckett
Nathaniel, the eldest son of Kathleen and Virgil, is a thoughtful and introspective character. Like his mother, he has inherited physical and emotional traits that set him apart from his father. His quiet demeanor and sensitivity contrast with his brother Nicholas. Moreover, much of his inner world is shaped by the interactions between his parents.
His silence becomes more pronounced after an unsettling encounter with his grandfather. He is subjected to a medical procedure without his mother’s consent. This event marks a turning point for Nathaniel pushing him into further emotional isolation.
Nicholas Beckett
Nicholas, the younger son, is more outspoken and bold than Nathaniel as he takes the lead in their activities. He is brash, opinionated, and speaks on behalf of his brother. He has a strong sense of loyalty to Nathaniel and is more resistant to the changes happening within the family, such as their move to Acropolis Place. Nicholas's distaste for their new living situation, particularly the rundown state of the pool, reflects his longing for stability and familiarity.
Cosmo Parousia Jr.
Cosmo is the eccentric landlord of Acropolis Place and a key figure in Kathleen’s life. He is short, stocky, and overbearingly enthusiastic. However, he is also vulnerable with a tragic backstory of his father’s drowning in the pool he now manages.
His interactions with Kathleen, which begin formally, take a shocking turn when they engage in an illicit affair. Cosmo’s character highlights themes of grief, repression, and misplaced affection. He seeks to replace the emotional void left by his father’s death and the stagnation in his life.
Coke Beckett
Coke is Virgil’s domineering father whose old-fashioned values and rigid worldview shape his interactions with his family. His suspicion regarding Nathaniel’s paternity reveals his distrust of Kathleen. Furthermore, his confrontational attitude exacerbates the tension between him and his son.
He represents the patriarchal force within the family unwilling to relinquish control and ready to impose his judgments. His behavior towards Nathaniel, including the unsettling medical procedure, reveals his overbearing and invasive nature.
