The Manchurian Candidate | Characters & Character Analysis

The Manchurian Candidate Characters

Raymond Shaw

Resenting his mother for betraying his father at an early age, Raymond Shaw grew detached from the normal course of human interaction. Raymond's mother had an affair with Johnny Iselin, the senior Shaw's law partner, and eventually left Raymond's father for the ambitious drunkard. Iselin rose to the rank of United States senator, instructed at every turn by his cunning wife. When Raymond's mother came between him and Jocie Jordan, the only woman he would ever love, Raymond shut down his emotions completely and joined the army to serve in the Korean War. His patrol is captured in Korea, and Shaw is brainwashed into murdering two men in his company. The rest of the patrol is conditioned to believe Raymond saved all of their lives in a great battle, and Major Marco nominates Shaw for the Medal of Honor, America's highest military award.

The Medal of Honor makes Shaw a...
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