Characters

The most important characters in “Eastmouth” by Alison Moore are Sonia, as the protagonist, and Peter and his parents, as secondary characters. Other characters – the woman in the transparent raincoat, the waiter, and the townspeople – also appear in the story, but their roles are primarily symbolic. All the locals in the story, including Peter and his parents, form the collective character of the residents of Eastmouth.

The story explores Sonia’s fear of and frustration at being forced – by those around her and her pregnancy – to live a conventional and uneventful life in Eastmouth. While the story suggests that Eastmouth is trying to trap Sonia, her passivity also seems to keep her there, as she cannot fully stand up for herself and confront Peter, his parents, and the townspeople who treat her as a local. 

You can find characterisations of Sonia, Peter, and Peter's parents in the next pages. You can also find a brief note on the townspeople as a whole.