Almost, Maine

Ginette, in contrast to Pete, is less analytical, preferring to live in the moment and feel the way she feels toward Pete, though she sometimes struggles to express it. She gets frustrated quickly with Pete’s musings, considering them fanciful, and gives up on the moment fairly quickly.

Described as “a repairman” (12), East is a well-meaning, straightforward guy who perhaps gets a little ahead of himself in his desire for Glory. There is no malice in him, however, and he is charming. He sees the world in terms of things that can be fixed.

Glory is an out-of-town hiker, and as a non-Northern Mainer, she can stand in for members of the audience or readers who are unfamiliar with Maine and its inhabitants. She has been hurt deeply, and is wracked with guilt, but is not so far gone that she can’t perhaps reclaim happiness.

Described as “a heating and cooling guy” (12), Jimmy is a lonesome person who has been going through a rough patch. He is dealing with negative self-image issues and looking for a glimmer of hope.

Sandrine is Jimmy’s “ex-girlfriend” (12), who has moved on and found what she is looking for with someone else. 

Cariani describes Marvalyn as “a woman who is very good at protecting herself” (12). She is not totally satisfied in her relationship but has not been able to admit it to herself. She is kind and genuine.

Steve is “an open, kind fellow whose brother protects him” (12). In many ways, Steve’s character can be seen as serving a symbolic purpose: being confronted with someone who cannot feel pain asks us to think about what causes pain, and the differing kinds of pain that exist in the world. 

Gayle is Lendall’s “longtime girlfriend” (12) who has been with him for eleven years. She is a bit impulsive in her scene, but not wholly unreasonable, and though she reacts in dramatic fashion, we can empathize with eleven years of frustration boiling over.

Lendall, roused from bed in his scene, is a bit slow on the uptake, unable to adequately express his feelings to Gayle in order to reassure her that their relationship is moving forward, although his heart is in the right place. 

Of the two friends, Randy/Deena is the more reticent, initially withdrawing from the idea of a romantic relationship with Chad/Shelly, though he/she clearly cares for the friendship a great deal.

The more impulsive and open member of the friendship, Chad/Shelly makes the first move, risking everything for love.

Described as “a working man” (12), Phil is someone who feels the financial pressures of having a family more acutely than perhaps Marci, his wife, does, and the other aspects of being a father and husband suffer for it.

Described as Phil’s “hard-working wife” (12), Marci has become frustrated by Phil’s lack of attention and bottled up the feeling so long that it has perhaps also contributed to the growing gulf between them.

Cariani describes Hope as a woman “who has traveled the world” (12), leaving Almost to find a more fulfilling life in the wider world.

Daniel is a man “who has not [traveled the world]” (12) and has been content to stay in Almost. This contrast between him and Hope seems to have been the driving force of their failed relationship.

Described as “a tough woman” (12), Rhonda does not easily fit into the mold of traditional femininity, and, perhaps because of this, has not thought of herself as an object of male desire.