The Cat

The cat who bites Sophie and infects her with the festering wound that is the focus of the story. The cat is one of the most important objects in the book. It is not so much a living creature as a symbol of the problems that infect Sophie's life. She feels guilty about capturing it because she believes it will lead to its death, a death she feels responsible for.

Novels

One of the most important series of items in the book, much of the sentiment of Desperate Characters is expressed through the different classic novels they discuss.

The Wound

Sophie is given a nasty bite from a cat. Throughout most of the book she refuses to have it treated and it becomes increasingly infected and painful until she finally has it treated.

Brooklyn Heights

The area in Brooklyn where both the Bentwoods and the Holsteins...