Voyage In The Dark

Walter pursues Anna and takes care of her financially until his romantic interest runs out. He is older, wealthy and established, and prefers to maintain his veneer of propriety and his Englishness because, unlike Anna, he prefers both certainty and the cold.

In the beginning, he seems to care for Anna, but decides to discard her with influence from Vincent, with whom he shares a close relationship. Despite his callous treatment, he offers to assist Anna financially, in order to assure himself that he still does her justice and that no guilt exists on his part, after he uses her.

Walter’s cousin, he is similar to Walter in nature, but Anna does not trust him as he appears forced in his kindness. Good-looking and charming, he is privileged, often changes his female companions, and enjoys the countryside. After the relationship between Walter and Anna ends, he deals with her on behalf of Walter and protects him, upholding the bonds of male loyalty or brotherhood.

Laurie is another chorus-girl with whom Anna works at the beginning of the novel. Later, she is introduced as a tart, which does not bother Anna, because Anna likes her. She is pretty and resourceful and teaches Anna to deal with men and how to handle money. Although Laurie is direct, carefree, and vivacious, she holds a soft and compassionate side as she takes care of Anna by providing her solace and assisting her when she needs an abortion.

Ethel and Anna meet by chance at a boarding house. She is in her forties and proposes to Anna to join her as a manicurist and share her flat. She is initially kind to Anna, but it can be discerned that she is equally jealous of Anna’s youth and ability to attract male attention. She frequently calls herself respectable, but she appears to conduct a shady business which she needs because she is frustrated by her progressing age and limited opportunities, should she not secure a better financial situation soon.

Hester is Anna’s stepmother. She departs from the West Indies with Anna desiring to live an opulent life in England. She has shown herself to be racist and classist and she despises Anna’s mingling with the black servants and believes herself to have done more than enough to fix Anna’s accent to a proper English tone. Hester’s mothering is self-serving and severe. She effectively deserts Anna when accused of stealing Anna’s property by her Uncle Bo.

Uncle Bo is Anna’s uncle. He lives in the West Indies and is descended from European planters. A fun-loving alcoholic with false teeth, he has fathered illegitimate, mixed-race children and given them his name, which Hester abhors. Anna adores her uncle, and he has love for her, too, but his anger at Hester and his belief that she took his niece’s inheritance prevents him from helping Anna further.

Carl is an American visiting London for pleasure, which includes women, though gambling seems even more important. He is accompanied by Joe and together they are shown around the city by Laurie. He appears to have a broken nose and confirms to Anna later that he also has a wife and daughter. Carl is attracted to women who look young, and he has a brief affair with Anna.