Ellen Thatcher

Ellen, also known as Elli and Elaine, is a main character who represents the working actor and editor that is always in the public view. She marries and divorces regularly, starting with John Oglethorpe, who is instrumental in bringing her into an acting career. She is married to Jimmy for a period and has a child by him named Martin. At the end of the novel, Ellen agrees to marry George Baldwin, a longtime admirer.

Ellen's childhood desire to be a boy represents a growing feminism during the rapid rise of New York City to its metropolis status. Women won the right to vote in the 19th century, and as the society turns from rural to urban, further strides in gender equality follow. Money and power go together, and when wielding the power, gender makes little difference. Ellen does not consciously seek her own power anywhere but...