Characters

The most important characters in “Solo Dance” by Jayne Anne Phillips are the woman, as the main character, and her father as a secondary character. Note that the story also mentions the woman’s mother, her relatives, and the lawyer.

The woman seems emotionally closed-off, but the reason is unclear. It is possible that she feels she cannot openly communicate with her father, particularly because he is ill and still focused on his divorce.

The woman’s father is divorced (ll. 9-10) and has cancer (l. 1). He has spent six weeks in the hospital (l.13) and went through a cancer operation (l. 1). Although he is no longer in contact with his wife, as suggested by the fact that he does not know how she is doing (l. 23).

You can read their characterisations in the next pages.