Mr. McKisco Character Analysis in Tender Is the Night

Violet’s husband, Mr. McKisco, is a writer and considers himself a real intellectual. He is a hateful man and often undermines and belittles his wife. McKisco repulses Rosemary on the morning of his duel with Tommy Barban, as he drinks himself stupid and tries to put his sad affairs in order. When Dick runs into McKisco much later in the story, on the boat back from America, Dick discovers that McKisco has become a real literary success.

Mr. McKisco Character Timeline in Tender Is the Night

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. McKisco appears in Tender Is the Night. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Excess, Destruction, and the Failed American Dream Theme Icon

...her. Rosemary reluctantly moves towards the “untanned people,” who Campion introduces as Mrs. Abrams, Mrs. McKisco, Mr. McKisco, and Mr. Dumphry. One of the women announces that she needn’t be introduced... (full context)

Mr. McKisco, “a scrawny, freckle-and-red man,” attempts to make conversation with Rosemary, but when his wife, Violet,... (full context)

...Diver, but her and her family aren’t staying at the hotel. Leaving Violet and Mr. McKisco in another argument, Rosemary swims back to the beach, where she lies in the sun... (full context)

Rosemary’s new friends share disparaging remarks about Violet and Mr. McKisco and their party, whom they consider to be distasteful. Rosemary decides that she wouldn’t like... (full context)

...Villa Diana is “the center of the world.” She is shocked when Violet and Mr. McKisco, Mrs. Abrams, Mr. Dumphry, and Mr. Campion arrive, believing them to be “incongruous” guests. Dick’s... (full context)

...swing, the guests prattle away merrily about various nonsenses. Unable to contribute anything interesting, Mr. McKisco devotes himself to drinking champagne, while the others enjoy themselves and the friendly atmosphere. Enchanted... (full context)

Gender, Mental Illness, and Psychiatry Theme Icon

Rosemary notices that Nicole and Dick have disappeared. In that moment, Violet McKisco accosts Rosemary to accompany her to the bathroom. Rosemary refuses, busy longing for Dick to... (full context)

Presently, Dick returns to his guests and relieves the tension in the group by indulging McKisco in a conversation about literature. When at last Dick leads Rosemary through the garden, leaving... (full context)

The Pursuit of Youth and Innocence Theme Icon

...get home in two separate cars—“There would be Tommy Barban […] with Mrs. Abrams, Violet McKisco, Mr. McKisco and Campion” in one car, and Early Brady, Rosemary, Mrs. Speers, and Dumphry... (full context)

...was that Violet had seen in Dick and Nicole’s house. Coming to Violet’s defense, Mr. McKisco got involved with the argument too. As a result, Mr. McKisco and Tommy are due... (full context)

...very loyal to Dick and Nicole—tells his version of events to Rosemary, recounting how Violet, McKisco, and Tommy had argued in the car and arranged the resulting duel. Tommy “is a... (full context)

Abe heads upstairs to check on McKisco, bringing Rosemary with him. McKisco has been drinking all night and looks “puny and cross... (full context)

...strange space between the past and the future. On the boat he bumps into Albert McKisco, who has become a very successful writer since Dick last saw him. McKisco’s fame and... (full context)