Irony of War
Holling has an idea of transferring to military school to spare himself from wearing yellow tights in a Shakespeare's play. He announces his wish to his family, and is sister is the only one taken aback by this and expresses her fear for her brother but also reveals the ironic truth of war and death. She says to him that soldiers come back home in black body bags, are buried, their families get a new fancy American flag, and they are soon forgotten.
Holling's father
Holling's father is the most despicable character in the novel. He is a selfish man who controls and manipulates his family into doing only what he wishes. He only cares for the reputation of his architecture company and forces his son, and the rest of his family, to only behave and not behave if it benefits the business, disregarding their complaints or wishes. Ironically, he disguises his manipulation with the assumption that everything he does is for his family, that he will leave his company to his son, without, again, ever asking his opinion on that. Despite Holling being the son that will inherit the fortune, his father pays very little attention to his wishes, accomplishments, and even safety, as shown when Holling ends up in a hospital, and he refuses to even come to take him home.
Mrs. Baker
Mrs. Baker is portrayed as an evil teacher at the beginning, who dislikes Holling with no apparent reason. Despite some of her actions going in favor of that, she turns out to be the exact opposite. She becomes a parental figure to Holling, his parents quite obviously lack in that aspect, and guiding him towards his improvement and success.
