Stillman

Outer characterization

Professor Peter Stillman is an important character in the novel City of Glass by Paul Auster. He comes from a wealthy and notable family from Boston, whose members held influential positions in the community in the 19th century, such as “several governors (…) a number of Episcopal bishops, ambassadors, a Harvard president” (Chapter 3, 22%).

Stillman attended Harvard university “like everyone else in the family” (Chapter 33%) and studied philosophy and religion. After graduating, he began teaching in the religion department at Colombia (Chapter 3, 33%). 

Stillman married and had a son whom he also named Peter. His wife died when Peter was two. When it was discovered that he was holding his son confined to a room, he was arrested and then sent to a mental institution, where he spent 13 years of his life. When he leaves the mental institution and returns to New York, he stays at the Hotel Harmony, a “fleabag for down-and-outs” (Chapter 7, 100%).

When Quinn inspects the photograph that shows what Stillman looked like 20 years back, he notices that Stillman looks “benign, if not downright pleasant” (Chapter 5, 75%) with a “hint of tenderness around the mouth” (Chapter 5, 75%). This is an unexpected description and does not match the...