American Pastoral Characters

Seymour “the Swede” Levov is the book’s tragic hero. In American Pastoral’s present, the Swede has just died of cancer. The bulk of novel is comprised of narrator Nathan Zuckerman’s speculative reimagining of… read analysis of Seymour “The Swede” Levov

Dawn Levov, formerly Dawn Dwyer, is the Swede’s first wife. She and the Swede have a daughter, Merry. Dawn grew up in urban New Jersey, and she and Swede share a similar resentment… read analysis of Dawn Dwyer

Merry Levov is the Swede and Dawn Levov’s daughter. She is sweet and precocious girl as a young child, but she gets involved in the anti-war movement as a teenager and gradually becomes more… read analysis of Merry Levov

Nathan Zuckerman is an author in his 60s. He functions as a stand-in for American Pastoral’s real-life author, Philip Roth, and also appears in several of Roth’s other novels. The novel begins with Nathan’s… read analysis of Nathan Zuckerman

Jerry Levov is the Swede’s younger brother. He’s a former classmate of Nathan Zuckerman. In the novel’s present in 1995, Jerry is a well-regarded cardiac surgeon in Florida and is on his fifth… read analysis of Jerry Levov

Sylvia Levov is Lou’s wife and the Swede and Jerry’s mother. She’s a kind and thoughtful woman who takes seriously her responsibility to care for her family. She is highly attuned to others’… read analysis of Sylvia Levov

Bill Orcutt is the Levovs’ neighbor in Old Rimrock. He is married to Jessie Orcutt, with whom he has several grown children. Orcutt is the archetypal “Wasp.” He comes from a wealthy and… read analysis of Bill Orcutt

Jessie Orcutt is the Levovs’ neighbor in Old Rimrock. She is married to Bill Orcutt, with whom she has several children. Jessie is a Philadelphia heiress who grew up with countless privileges. When… read analysis of Jessie Orcutt

Rita Cohen is a fiery young woman involved in the anti-war effort who serves as Merry’s emissary after Merry goes into hiding following her attack on Old Rimrock’s general store/post office. About a… read analysis of Rita Cohen

Sheila Salzman is Merry’s speech therapist in Morristown. She is married to Shelly Salzman, a physician. Merry’s stutter greatly improves under Sheila’s care, and she comes to idolize the dedicated young therapist. The… read analysis of Sheila Salzman

Shelly Salzman is Sheila’s husband. He’s a physician and an unwaveringly kind, thoughtful, and considerate man. In the months after Merry goes missing, the Swede and Sheila begin a short-lived affair. The Swede nearly… read analysis of Shelly Salzman

Marcia Umanoff is a literature professor at Columbia University. She lives in New York with her husband, Barry. Marcia is outspoken in her opinions, especially her support for society’s increasingly relaxed attitudes toward sex… read analysis of Marcia Umanoff

Barry Umanoff is the Swede’s childhood best friend. He is a law professor at Columbia University and lives in New York with his wife, Marcia. Although the Swede doesn’t understand what Barry finds… read analysis of Barry Umanoff

Vicky is the forelady at Newark Maid. She has worked at the factory for years and is among the Levovs’ most loyal employees. Lou Levov recalls throwing Vicky’s sons graduation parties before they went off… read analysis of Vicky

Harry is a cutter at Newark Maid. He’s one of the factory’s oldest employees, having worked there when the Swede was just a boy learning the ropes of the business he would one day inherit… read analysis of Harry

Joy Helpern is an old classmate of Nathan Zuckerman’s whom he reunites with at their 45th high school reunion. When they were teens, Nathan took Joy on a hayride and was disappointed when she… read analysis of Joy Helpern

Angela Davis is a historic figure known for her far-left political activism. A longtime member of the Community Party USA, she was involved in the campaign effort against the Vietnam War. Davis gained notoriety after… read analysis of Angela Davis

Mrs. Conlon is Dr. Conlon’s widow. After Merry Levov’s bomb explodes at the village post office and Dr. Conlon is killed in the blast, the Swede goes to visit Mrs. Conlon to give… read analysis of Mrs. Conlon

Billy is a waiter at Vincent’s, an Italian restaurant in New York famous for its baked ziti. The Swede regularly takes Dawn and Merry to eat there, and Billy develops an instant fondness for Merry… read analysis of Billy

Bucky Robinson is the Levovs’ neighbor in Old Rimrock. The Swede meets him at one of Bill Orcutt’s weekend pick-up football games. Bucky knows of the Swede from high school—their respective school football… read analysis of Bucky Robinson