A Little Life
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Part 1: Lispenard Street: Chapter 1Part 1: Lispenard Street: Chapter 2Part 1: Lispenard Street: Chapter 3Part 2: The Postman: Chapter 1Part 2: The Postman: Chapter 2Part 2: The Postman: Chapter 3Part 3: Vanities: Chapter 1Part 3: Vanities: Chapter 2Part 3: Vanities: Chapter 3Part 4: The Axiom of Equality: Chapter 1Part 4: The Axiom of Equality: Chapter 2Part 4: The Axiom of Equality: Chapter 3Part 5: The Happy Years: Chapter 1Part 5: The Happy Years: Chapter 2Part 5: The Happy Years: Chapter 3Part 6: Dear Comrade: Chapter 1Part 6: Dear Comrade: Chapter 2Part 6: Dear Comrade: Chapter 3Part 7: Lispenard Street
Themes
Characters
All CharactersJude St. FrancisWillem RagnarssonMalcolm IrvineJean Baptiste “JB” MarionHarold SteinBrother LukeDr. TraylorCaleb PorterAndy ContractorHemming Julia Richard Dr. LoehmannAna Jacob Lucien VoigtMr. IrvineFlora IrvineMrs. IrvineWillem’s MotherWillem’s FatherJudge Sullivan LaurenceLieslDr. KashenFather GabrielThe LearysSophieJacksonLesliePhilippaRobinEzraFelix BakerJB’s MotherKitClaudineSanjayMartaFrancescaEdieIdrissBoyd
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A Little Life
byHanya Yanagihara
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Jude St. Francis
Jude, the novel’s protagonist, is an ambitious and brilliant lawyer haunted by a troubled, mysterious past. He suffers from chronic pain in his legs and back that worsens as the result of a horrific accident—when…read analysis of Jude St. Francis
Willem Ragnarsson
Willem is Jude’s closest friend and, later, his life partner. Though he initially struggles to advance his acting career, he eventually becomes a famous and successful screen actor. Jude and Willem have always been…read analysis of Willem Ragnarsson
Malcolm Irvine
Malcolm Irvine is an architect and one of Jude’s best friends from college. At the start of the novel, Malcolm is unsatisfied with his life. He’s ashamed to be 27 years old and still…read analysis of Malcolm Irvine
Jean Baptiste “JB” Marion
JB is one of Jude’s best friends from college. A painter, JB initially struggles to achieve the recognition he thinks he deserves. JB, like the rest of the four central characters, is highly ambitious…read analysis of Jean Baptiste “JB” Marion
Harold Stein
Harold Stein is Jude’s law professor and later, his adoptive father. Harold immediately recognizes Jude’s brilliance and takes him under his wing. He and his wife Julia frequently have Jude over for dinner at…read analysis of Harold Stein
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Brother Luke
Brother Luke is a monk at the monastery in South Dakota where Jude grew up. He’s also one of the novel’s antagonists and one of Jude’s many childhood abusers. Whereas the other monks beat, sexually…read analysis of Brother Luke
Dr. Traylor
Dr. Traylor is a sad*stic psychiatrist who abducts, imprisons, and abuses Jude after Jude runs away from the boys’ home. Dr. Traylor is initially kind, if rather aloof: he gives Jude a comfortable place to…read analysis of Dr. Traylor
Caleb Porter
Caleb Porter is a cruel and abusive man Jude dates before he begins his relationship with Willem. Jude endures Caleb’s abuse because he’s lonely and believes that someone like him doesn’t deserve anyone better…read analysis of Caleb Porter
Andy Contractor
An orthopedic surgeon, Andy Contractor is Jude’s longtime doctor and friend. Andy is the only doctor Jude trusts to examine him. Other than Willem, Andy is the only person who has seen Jude’s…read analysis of Andy Contractor
Hemming
Hemming was Willem’s older brother who he died before the novel’s present day, when Willem was still in college. Hemming was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy; he was nonverbal, and his…read analysis of Hemming
Julia
Julia is Harold’s wife. She’s a microbiologist who is originally from the United Kingdom. She and Harold are both professors in Cambridge. Julia, like Harold, loves and cares for Jude, and this love…read analysis of Julia
Richard
Richard is a good friend of Jude, JB, Malcolm, and Willem. He’s a sculptor, and he shares studio space with JB at the beginning of the novel, when JB is still…read analysis of Richard
Dr. Loehmann
Dr. Loehmann is a psychiatrist to whom Andy refers Jude following Jude’s suicide attempt. Despite his friends’ protests, Jude initially refuses to see Dr. Loehmann. Following a major fight with Willem over Jude’s continued self-harm…read analysis of Dr. Loehmann
Ana
Ana was Jude’s only social worker. She began working his case after Dr. Traylor’s attack and helped Jude through his recovery. Before Willem, Ana was the only person in whom he confided…read analysis of Ana
Jacob
Jacob was Harold’s son with his first wife, Liesl. In a long first-person account spread throughout multiple chapters, Harold describes the swift decline Jacob underwent between the age of four, when he had…read analysis of Jacob
Lucien Voigt
Lucien Voigt is Jude’s boss at Rosen Pritchard and Klein, one of the city’s most important firms. He’s always impressed with Jude’s work, though he also urges Jude to take some time off when…read analysis of Lucien Voigt
Mr. Irvine
Mr. Irvine is Malcolm’s father. He’s demanding and highly critical. Mr. Irvine and Malcolm have never had a great relationship, and Malcolm has always known that his father favors Flora, Malcolm’s older sister…read analysis of Mr. Irvine
Flora Irvine
Flora Irvine is Malcolm’s older sister. Malcolm has always known that Flora is Mr. Irvine’s favorite child (Mr. Irvine has lots of affectionate nicknames for her and constantly sings her praises). Malcolm longs…read analysis of Flora Irvine
Mrs. Irvine
Mrs. Irvine is Malcolm’s mother. She runs a literary agency. Mrs. Irvine is more affectionate with Malcolm than Mr. Irvine is, but she can be somewhat distracted. Mrs. Irvine sees how Mr. Irvine’s preference for…read analysis of Mrs. Irvine
Willem’s Mother
Willem’s mother was a Danish immigrant. She and Willem’s father worked on a ranch in rural Wyoming all Willem’s life. She died before the novel’s present day, when Willem was still in college. Willem’s…read analysis of Willem’s Mother
Willem’s Father
Willem’s father was an Icelandic immigrant. He worked as a ranch hand in Wyoming all Willem’s life and died before the novel’s present day, when Willem was still in college. Willem’s father is humble and…read analysis of Willem’s Father
Judge Sullivan
Judge Sullivan is the judge Jude clerks for in Washington, D.C., after law school. Harold urges Jude to apply for the position and even serves as a reference. During Jude’s interview with Judge Sullivan, the…read analysis of Judge Sullivan
Laurence
Laurence is Harold’s best friend and an appellate court judge in Boston. He oversees the proceedings of Jude’s adoption. Jude sees Laurence and his wife, Gillian, at dinners and holiday gatherings at…read analysis of Laurence
Liesl
Liesl was Harold’s first wife. She’s a doctor. Harold recalls the horrific year they endured together as they watched their young son, Jacob, suffer and die from a rare neurodegenerative disease. Their grief…read analysis of Liesl
Dr. Kashen
Dr. Kashen is one of Jude’s math professors at MIT. He dies sometime after Jude has graduated from college. When Caleb later throws Jude down the stairs, Jude recalls Dr. Kashen, who once asked…read analysis of Dr. Kashen
Father Gabriel
Father Gabriel is one of the monks at the monastery in South Dakota where Jude grew up. He and the other monks physically, sexually, and emotionally abused Jude, instilling in Jude a sense of internalized…read analysis of Father Gabriel
The Learys
The Learys are a family who express interest in adopting Jude (then a young boy) at an adoption event in Montana. Jude spends a weekend with the Learys and tries his best to win them…read analysis of The Learys
Sophie
Sophie is Malcolm’s wife. She, like Malcolm, is an architect; they met in college. Sophie and Malcolm, along with some of Malcolm’s former Ratstar colleagues, eventually form their own firm, Bellcast. Sophie and Malcolm…read analysis of Sophie
Jackson
Jackson is a sculptor JB meets after his (JB’s) second show. Jackson isn’t the type of person JB would normally befriend: he’s rich and entitled, his sculptures are “stupid” and uninteresting, and he’s a drug…read analysis of Jackson
Leslie
Leslie is Ana’s girlfriend. After Ana’s death, Leslie tried to stay in touch with Jude, sending him a Christmas card his first year at college. But the card was Jude’s last remaining physical…read analysis of Leslie
Philippa
Philippa, a costume designer, is one of Willem’s girlfriends prior to his relationship with Jude. She and Willem eventually break up over Willem’s friendship with Jude, which Philippa feels is too “codependent.” Jude…read analysis of Philippa
Robin
Robin is one of Willem’s girlfriends prior to his relationship with Jude. They eventually break up. Robin once asked Willem if Jude was gay or straight, and Willem realized that he didn’t have the…read analysis of Robin
Ezra
At the beginning of the novel, when the central characters are in their 20s and still struggling to get their careers off the ground, JB lives with Ezra, an untalented artist whose wealthy family pays…read analysis of Ezra
Felix Baker
Felix Baker is a boy Jude tutors when he is in his late 20s. Felix’s family is wealthy and has very little time for him. Felix is shy and insecure. He also has no friends…read analysis of Felix Baker
JB’s Mother
JB’s mother is a second-generation Haitian immigrant. JB is unlike the rest of his close friends in that he has a loving and supportive family. She is a successful educator and professor, and she has…read analysis of JB’s Mother
Kit
Kit is Willem’s agent. When Willem starts to give up film roles to stay home and care for Jude, Kit remarks that such behavior would be understandable if Willem were caring for a sick…read analysis of Kit
Claudine
Claudine is a jewelry designer and acquaintance of Willem’s. Willem begins a sexual affair with Claudine during his and Jude’s relationship. Though Jude has given Willem permission to pursue sex outside of their…read analysis of Claudine
Sanjay
Sanjay is Jude’s colleague at Rosen Pritchard and Klein. After Willem’s death, Sanjay informs Jude’s other friends of how infrequently Jude feeds himself, and this contributes to everyone’s decision to hold an intervention…read analysis of Sanjay
Marta
Marta was one of Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm’s suitemates in college. Marta, Francesca, and Edie—who are all lesbians—were in a band together called Backfat. They used to participate…read analysis of Marta
Francesca
Francesca was one of Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm’s suitemates in college. Francesca, Marta, and Edie—who are all lesbians—were in a band together called Backfat. They used to participate…read analysis of Francesca
Edie
Edie was one of Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm’s suitemates in college. Edie, Marta, and Francesca—who are all lesbians—were in a band together called Backfat. After college, Edie transitions…read analysis of Edie
Idriss
Idriss is Willem’s therapist. When Idriss tries to get Willem to talk about the issues he’s having with his sex life, Willem realizes he doesn’t want to think about his relationship with Jude as…read analysis of Idriss
Boyd
Boyd is a counselor at the boys’ home where Jude lives after the authorities remove him from Brother Luke’s custody. When Boyd drops off Jude at the Learys’ house for a “probationary weekend,”…read analysis of Boyd
Minor Characters
Citizen
Citizen is one of Jude’s fellow clerks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jude is friendliest with Citizen and Rhodes, with whom he works on securities fraud cases. They remain friends after their clerkship ends and they move on to different jobs.
Rhodes
Rhodes is one of Jude’s fellow clerks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jude is friendliest with Rhodes and Citizen, with whom he works on securities fraud cases. They remain friends after their clerkship ends and they move on to different jobs.
Dr. Li
Dr. Li is one of Jude’s math professors at MIT. He delivers a moving eulogy at Dr. Kashen’s funeral about “the axiom of zero,” a mathematical concept that explores the unprovability of nothingness. Dr. Li argues that in dying, Dr. Kashen “has proven the concept of zero.”
Brother Peter
Brother Peter is one of the monks at the monastery in South Dakota where Jude grew up. He and the other monks physically, sexually, and emotionally abused Jude, instilling in Jude a sense of internalized shame and worthlessness that he carries with him for the rest of his life.
Brother Michael
Brother Michael is one of the monks at the monastery in South Dakota where Jude grew up. He and the other monks physically, sexually, and emotionally abused Jude, instilling in Jude a sense of internalized shame and worthlessness that he carries with him for the rest of his life.
Brother Pavel
Brother Pavel is one of the monks at the monastery in South Dakota where Jude grew up. He and the other monks physically, sexually, and emotionally abused Jude, instilling in him a sense of internalized shame and worthlessness that he carries with him for the rest of his life.
Annika
Annika is one of JB’s coworkers at the arts magazine in SoHo where he works before his career takes off. At the beginning of the novel, Annika leases her aunt’s vacant apartment on Lispenard Street to Willem and Jude.
Mr. Baker
Mr. Baker is young Felix’s father; Jude tutors Felix for a time. Mr. Baker is very wealthy and has little time to understand his son or help him through his problems.
JB’s Father
JB’s father is a Haitian immigrant; he died when JB was three. JB didn’t know his father well enough to miss him.
JB’s Aunt
JB’s aunt is a detective. She took JB to the Museum of Modern Art when he was young, and this began his lifelong passion for art and inspired career as a painter. JB’s aunt, like the rest of JB’s family, has always believed in him and his art.
Black Henry Young
Black Henry Young is a friend that Jude, Willem, Malcolm, and JB have in common. They call him Black Henry Young to differentiate him from Asian Henry Young.
Asian Henry Young
Asian Henry Young is a friend that Jude, Willem, Malcolm, and JB have in common. They call him Asian Henry Young to differentiate him from Black Henry Young.
Giles
Giles is a therapist JB starts seeing (at his family’s insistence) after his family holds an intervention over JB’s drug use.
Linus
Linus is the doctor Andy selects to replace him when he retires from his practice. Jude appreciates Linus’s matter-of-fact approach, but he knows that he’ll never feel comfortable removing his clothes or sharing his history with any doctor besides Andy.
Harold’s Father
Harold’s father was a doctor who died not long before Harold first meets Jude. Harold was close with his father, but the shame Harold felt about his failure to save Jacob in the final year of Jacob’s life makes it hard for Harold to face his father.
Adele
Adele was Harold’s father’s office manager. She married Harold’s father after Harold’s mother’s death and loved Harold as her own child. Harold, in turn, loved Adele and saw her as his mother. Adele died not long before Harold first meets Jude.
Rodger
Rodger is one of the cruelest counselors at the boys’ home in Philadelphia where Jude lives after the police take him away from Brother Luke. Once, when Jude (unsuccessfully) tries to run away, Rodger beats Jude so hard his nose bleeds.
Colin
Colin is one of the counselors at the boys’ home where Jude lives after the police take him away from Brother Luke. Jude runs away from the home one night after Colin sexually assaults him in the barn.
The Douglasses
The Douglasses are an evangelical Lutheran family that fosters Jude and two other disabled children, Agnes and Rosie, as Jude recovers from Dr. Traylor’s attack.
Alex
Alex is Rhodes’s wife. She works for Rothko, the fashion label at which Caleb is the new CEO. This is how Caleb comes to attend Rhodes and Alex’s dinner party, which where he and Jude meet.
Tomasz
Tomasz is a new boyfriend JB starts seeing sometime after Willem’s and Jude’s deaths. Harold likes Tomasz and thinks Willem and Jude would have liked him, too.
India is Richard’s wife. She’s an artist, too.
Ali
Ali is an artist with whom JB shares studio space at the beginning of the novel.
Gillian
Gillian is Laurence’s wife. She’s an English professor.
Jane
Jane is Andy Contractor’s wife.
Findlay
Findlay is Willem’s boss at Ortolan, the upscale restaurant Willem works at as he struggles to get his acting career off the ground.
Merritt
Merritt is Willem’s former roommate. He’s also an actor.
Mr. Ahmed
Mr. Ahmed is a driver Willem’s assistant hires for Jude when Jude suffers a serious of serious infections prior to his amputation surgery.
Patrizia
Patrizia is a nurse who cares for Jude when a series of serious infections require him to receive an IV drip after his release from the hospital.
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