The World According to Garp

Main Characters and Their Development

• T.S. Garp — the son of nurse Jenny Fields, grows up without a father. Garp becomes a writer and struggles to find his place in life, experiencing various highs and lows. He seeks to understand himself and the world around him, facing a complex path of personal development.
• Jenny Fields — Garp's mother, an independent and strong woman who defines many aspects of her life on her own terms. She works as a nurse and later writes a radical book that becomes a bestseller. Her beliefs and actions significantly influence Garp's life and views.
• Helen Holm — Garp's wife, a student in a creative writing course that Garp also attends. They meet in college, fall in love, and start a family. Helen becomes a professor and writer. Her relationship with Garp undergoes many trials, reflecting changes and compromises in their shared life.
• Duncan Garp — the eldest son of Garp and Helen, experiences a childhood tragedy that results in the loss of an eye. This event significantly impacts his character and future life. Duncan seeks his own path, trying to find balance between family tragedies and his own aspirations.
• Walt Garp — the younger son of Garp and Helen, whose life is cut short by a car accident. His death has a profound emotional impact on the entire family, becoming a dark and transformative tragedy in their lives.
• Roberta Muldoon — a family friend of the Garps, a wrestler who later becomes Garp's coach. His life and interactions with Garp demonstrate the complexities of male relationships, friendship, and competition.