58 pages • 1 hour read
Lily KingWriters and Lovers
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem is a struggling writer with crushing student loan debt and the feeling that her life is a mess. She is the narrator and protagonist of the story. The book is told through her first-person narrative perspective, thus bringing the reader into Casey’s intimate inner world. Casey lives in cycles of self-sabotage. Her primary employment as a server is stressful and her low wages are insufficient to fulfill her basic needs. Her friendships become harder to maintain the older she gets, she’s been writing the same novel for six years, and she continuously falls in love with men who care more about themselves than her. Add to these cycles the fact that she is grieving her mother’s death, and it is truly no wonder why Casey becomes crippled by anxiety. The reader travels with Casey as she navigates different relationships, the ups and downs of her creative life, and her ultimate triumphs. Because Casey’s life changes so much and her narrative is such an intimate look into her heart and perspective, the novel traces Casey’s year as if it’s a coming-of-age story. Casey’s commitment to her lifestyle, her kindness, and her desire to love and be loved makes her a sympathetic narrator, even when she makes decisions that cause her to repeat past problematic behaviors.
Oscar Kolton
Oscar Kolton is a successful author and widower. At 47 years old, he has an established career as an author, earning him respect throughout the Boston community. He is one of Casey’s love interests in the novel, representing one of the “writers and lovers” from the title. At first, Oscar symbolizes a potential new chapter in Casey’s life. He represents stability, success in an artistic endeavor, and fatherhood. Oscar has everything Casey thinks she’s supposed to want. As the novel progresses, however, Oscar becomes the symbol for Casey’s repeated patterns of choosing the wrong men. He is egotistical, jealous, and self-centered. He remains a kind and generous man, but Casey begins to see that he wants her around for her youth and for how being with someone like Casey makes him feel. Oscar’s purpose as a character is to show Casey how often she falls into the trappings of toxic masculinity, thereby allowing her to confront her feelings about her father and her history of men who consume and use her. Oscar is an ideal character for this, because he is nice and interesting. He’s not awful, but in recognizing Oscar’s flaws, Casey recognizes the potential for unhappiness in what would be a consistent life.
Silas
Silas is a fellow struggling writer. When Casey meets him through their mutual friend Muriel, she finds herself attracted to him right away. At first, Silas represents what Casey doesn’t want from a relationship. He takes a long time to get in contact with her and isn’t particularly demonstrative with his emotions or physicality. But these qualities are also what Casey likes about Silas; she enjoys the quiet nature of their relationship and strives for independent time as well. After Casey makes her decision to see only Oscar, she can’t help but to think of Silas, especially in juxtaposition with the passionless relationship she develops with Oscar. Silas continues to pop into her life, each time providing a deeply empathetic ear to her problems and leaving Casey desiring him more and more. In the end, Casey and Silas get back together—exclusively—and even their reconciliation is indicative of the type of relationship they have. Casey doesn’t have to work for her relationship with Oscar or her past relationships with men. But with Silas, Casey must vocalize her true feelings and her actual wishes, something that she struggles to do in her adult life. Casey earns having Silas back into her life, and Silas provides a risky but beautiful connection, symbolizing that with great risk comes great possibilities.
Muriel
Muriel represents Casey’s healthiest relationship. She is Casey’s support system, her confidante, and the voice of reason in Casey’s chaos. Without Muriel, Casey wouldn’t have found the opportunities afforded to her to progress in her life. Muriel introduces her to Silas, indirectly introduces her to Oscar, helps set up an interesting and stable job for her, and is present when Casey goes into the doctor to confront what could be cancer. Muriel is also a writer, one whose romantic relationships with men do not impede her ability to get her work done. In this regard, Muriel acts as inspiration for Casey. Although Muriel is more successful in writing and in love, there is virtually no jealousy between the two friends. With Muriel, King avoids the trope of toxic female friendships and bitter competition between creatives. Muriel pushes Casey to do and be better, encouraging Casey to send her book to agents and constantly building up Casey’s confidence.
