Relationships between characters

Relationship between Greville and Payne

Doctor Richard Greville and Sergeant Payne are main characters in the novel Running Wild by J.G. Ballard. They are investigators who work together to solve the Pangbourne murders.

At first, Greville and Payne do not appear to get on well with each other. Payne, whose theories were rejected by his superiors, doubts Greville and does not tell him what he really thinks about the case. He has no way of knowing that Greville is, himself, an outcast because of his own unpopular theories. The two of them are kindred spirits, in the sense that they value truth and justice more than recognition.

When Greville finally figures out what happened by correctly interpreting Marion’s repetitive gesture, he earns Payne’s respect and trust. Furthermore, Greville provides what Payne had been missing even when he realized the children had murdered their parents: a motive for the crimes. This changes Payne’s attitude towards Greville and t...