Character Analysis: George Lewis
George Lewis is the tragic older brother of Debbie Hunter, haunted by his past and manipulated into repeating the cycle of violence he desperately tried to escape. His presence looms large despite his long absence, embodying the theme of The Past Haunting the Present.
Quick Facts
- Role: Debbie's older brother, reluctant accomplice to his parents' crimes, Sonny's kidnapper and caretaker
- First Appearance: Childhood memories in Chapter 13, reappears in Chapter 70
- Key Relationships: Debbie Hunter (sister), Sonny Hunter (great-nephew), Samuel and Alice Lewis (parents)
Who He Is
George is a victim turned perpetrator, a man whose life is defined by the monstrous actions of his parents and his desperate attempts to protect his sister. Forced into complicity as a child, he carries the weight of his past into adulthood, living a life of self-imposed exile. His reappearance sets in motion a tragic chain of events, revealing the inescapable nature of trauma and the corrupting influence of family secrets.
Personality & Traits
George's personality is a complex tapestry woven from trauma, guilt, and a deep-seated desire for redemption. He is both a product of his horrific upbringing and a testament to the enduring power of love and loyalty.
- Protective and Loyal: George's defining trait is his fierce devotion to Debbie. As children, he shielded her from their parents' abuse and manipulation. This loyalty, however, becomes his undoing, as Debbie exploits it to manipulate him into kidnapping Sonny Hunter.
- Rebellious: Unlike Debbie, George actively resisted his parents' lifestyle. He sought normalcy by making friends outside their control and ultimately confronted them, leading to his forced disappearance. This defiance highlights his inherent goodness and his struggle against the darkness that surrounds him.
- Guilt-Ridden: George is consumed by guilt, both for abandoning Debbie and for his role in the death of his friend, Martin Hamilton. This burden of guilt makes him vulnerable to Debbie's manipulation decades later, as he desperately seeks to atone for his perceived failures.
- Reclusive: After escaping his family, George retreats into isolation, living on a remote island in Norway. He avoids close relationships, fearing he is a danger to others, a clear indication of his deep-seated trauma and his belief that he is inherently flawed.
- Nurturing: Despite his past, George proves to be a loving and capable guardian to Sonny, whom he renames Andreas. He provides the boy with a stable, happy, and adventurous life, embodying the father figure he never had. This nurturing side reveals his capacity for love and his desire to break the cycle of abuse.
Character Journey
George's journey is a tragic descent from a brave, protective child to a broken man haunted by his past. His escape from his monstrous parents should have been a liberation, but instead, it leads to a life of isolation and guilt. The most significant turning point occurs upon his reunion with Debbie, where he is no longer the clear-headed protector of his youth but a man easily manipulated by his sister's lies. He transitions from victim to perpetrator when he kidnaps Sonny, an act he believes is one of rescue, mirroring the twisted logic of his parents and showcasing the theme of Nature vs. Nurture. His story concludes with his murder at the hands of Finn Hunter, a final, brutal end for a character who never truly escaped the violence of his origins.
Key Relationships
Debbie Hunter: George's younger sister is the central relationship in his life. As children, he adores and protects her, bearing the brunt of their parents' abuse to shield her. As an adult, she becomes his manipulator, preying on his guilt and love to orchestrate Sonny's kidnapping. Their bond is a powerful, toxic force that ultimately leads to his death, highlighting the destructive nature of unresolved trauma and familial secrets.
Sonny Hunter (Andreas): George kidnaps his great-nephew, Sonny, but raises him with genuine love and care, giving him the name Andreas and the nickname "Pappa." This relationship offers George a chance at redemptive fatherhood, providing Sonny with the safety and affection he himself was denied. However, it is also a stark reminder of his own past and the cycle of violence he is perpetuating, albeit with good intentions.
Samuel and Alice Lewis (Parents): George's parents are the source of his trauma. They abused him and forced him to be complicit in their crimes, turning him into a reluctant participant in their horrific acts. His rebellion against them defined his adolescence and led to his forty-year exile, but their influence continues to haunt him, shaping his actions and ultimately leading to his downfall.
Finn Hunter: Finn is George's nephew, though not by blood. Finn is the one who ultimately tracks George down to rescue Sonny, driven by a desire to protect his son and end the cycle of violence. In a final, violent confrontation, Finn murders George, a grim parallel to the violence that has plagued the family for generations, highlighting the cyclical nature of trauma and the difficulty of escaping one's past.
Defining Moments
- The Martin Hamilton Incident: George befriends a boy named Martin, defying his parents' isolation. When he is forced to bring Martin home, it leads to the boy's murder and a violent confrontation where George stands up to his parents to protect Debbie, ultimately leading to his own disappearance (Chapter 38). This moment marks a turning point in George's life, solidifying his guilt and setting him on a path of self-imposed exile.
- Reunion with Debbie: After forty years, George reunites with Debbie, who manipulates him with a fabricated story about Dave and Finn, preying on his guilt and protective instincts (Chapter 70). This reunion highlights George's vulnerability and his inability to escape the past, setting the stage for his tragic downfall.
- Kidnapping Sonny: Convinced he is saving his great-nephew from a dangerous home life, George kidnaps Sonny and takes him to his isolated home in Norway, renaming him Andreas (Chapter 72). This act mirrors the twisted logic of his parents, showcasing the corrupting influence of trauma and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator.
- Murder by Finn: Finn tracks George to his island. In an unseen confrontation, Finn kills George to rescue Sonny, a grim parallel to the violence that has plagued the family for generations (Epilogue). This final act underscores the cyclical nature of violence and the difficulty of escaping one's past, highlighting the tragic consequences of unresolved trauma.
Symbolism
George Lewis symbolizes the enduring and destructive power of childhood trauma. He is a ghost from a past filled with unspeakable horrors, and his story demonstrates that physical escape does not guarantee emotional freedom. His life is a testament to the theme of Family Secrets and Lies, as the secrets he kept and the lies he was told ultimately sealed his fate. He is a tragic figure, forever caught between his desire to be good and the monstrous legacy of his family.
Essential Quotes
‘It’s George,’ I replied. She turned her head but carried on moving. ‘Your brother.’ She stopped in her tracks and eyed me up and down, still from a distance. — George reintroducing himself to Debbie (Chapter 70)
This quote captures the distance and estrangement that define George's relationship with Debbie after forty years of separation. It highlights the impact of their shared trauma and the difficulty of reconnecting after so much time and pain.
I promise I wanted to, but I had no choice but to keep away,’ I replied. ‘Dad told me he would kill you if I ever came back. If I couldn’t protect you in person, I had to protect you with distance. — George explaining his forty-year absence to Debbie (Chapter 70)
This quote reveals the depth of George's sacrifice and his unwavering commitment to protecting Debbie, even at the cost of his own happiness. It underscores the power of fear and the lengths to which he was willing to go to keep his sister safe.
I had never felt a guilt like it. Debbie didn’t mean to make me feel this way, but it was instant and immeasurable. I held her tighter than I had when we were frightened children, hiding from Mum and waiting until her boil reduced to a simmer. Debbie was every bit as delicate now as she was then. And I vowed never to let this beautiful soul down again, like so many others – including me – had done before. — George's internal thoughts upon his reunion with Debbie (Chapter 70)
This quote encapsulates George's overwhelming guilt and his desperate desire to make amends for his perceived failures. It highlights his vulnerability and his susceptibility to Debbie's manipulation, setting the stage for his tragic downfall.
He is a happy, well-rounded three-year-old, and although he knows I am his uncle, he chooses to call me Pappa like the other children in his class call their fathers. One day he will want to know where he came from and I will either lie to him to spare his feelings or tell him the truth. I haven’t yet decided which path to take. — George reflecting on his life with Sonny (Andreas) (Chapter 72)
This quote reveals George's conflicted feelings about his role as Sonny's caretaker. It highlights his desire to protect the boy from the truth about his past while also acknowledging the importance of honesty and transparency.