Sherman McCoy

Sherman McCoy is a testament to author Tom Wolfe's ability to draw warm, complex human characters. If judged by his actions, Sherman is easy to hate. In fact, most of New York City winds up hating him before the novel has reached the midway point, yet because the reader is privy to Sherman's inner dialogue, the reader cannot help but like him. Sherman's internal logic is frequently driven by a greedy, childish sense of entitlement, yet the voice of his conscience speaks out very strongly on occasion as well.

Thus, his character embodies that all-too-human struggle between selfishness and personal responsibility. It is hard not to relate to Sherman in a small way, and because his character is drawn so oafishly and satirically, the reader feels safe in judging Sherman, at least at first. He judges himself purely by his image. For example, Sherman is convinced that...