Who are the characters in "The Rules of the Road" and how are they described?
The main character of Rules of the Road is Jenna Boller, an employee at Gladstone, a shoe store. Jenna is described as the sort of girl that would stand out, but not in a desirable way.
Madeline Gladstone is the president of Gladstone. She hires Jenna to drive
her across the country in order to stop her son Elden from taking over her
company and ruining its good name with products of mediocre quality.
Harry Bender, the self-proclaimed "greatest shoe salesman in the world," is a
kind and caring recovering alcoholic. He attends AA meetings and is a contrast
to Jenna's own father, who struggles with alcoholism.
Other characters include Jenna's sister Faith, who wants to be a model, Alice,
Madeline's good friend and retired hand model, and Grandma Boller, who suffers
from Alzheimer's and uses a memory board that Jenna makes for her.
The main character is Jenna, a...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
16 year old who is tall, overweight, and has red hair. She works in a shoe store owned by Madeline Gladstone, who is an older woman with a tough disposition.
Another character is Harry Bender, a former alcoholic who has turned to AA and is now sober and a kind, giving man. This is in contrast to Jenna's own alcoholic father.
Other characters include Jenna's mother, Jenna's 14 year-old sister Faith, Mrs. Gladstone's son Elden, who cares more about money then the quality of the shoes they sell, and Alice Lovett, a former shoe model and friend of Mrs. Gladstones who is kind to Jenna and shows her how to dress better.
How would you summarize the characters' personalities in Rules of the Road?
The main character, sixteen-year-old Jenna, is loyal and dependable. Because her father is an alcoholic and her mother works a night shift to make ends meet, Jenna shoulders the responsibilties of having a job and caring for her sister, in addition to schoolwork and extra-curricular activities. Jenna is protective of her sister, and shelters her from knowing the extent of their father's alcoholism. Jenna tends to be overcritical about herself; she is self-conscious about how she looks, and blames herself for things such as her father's situation, which are beyond her control.
Mrs. Madeline Gladstone is Jenna's boss at work, and she also hires Jenna to be her personal driver. Although she hides behind a gruff exterior, she is sympathetic and discerning, and has a strong sense of right and wrong. She recognizes in Jenna a lot of the qualities she values most.
Jenna's mother is loving but overworked, and must depend heavily on Jenna for help with her sister, Faith. Faith has been sheltered from the truth about her father, and has an unrealistic view of how things really are.
Harry Bender is a recovered alcoholic. He is outgoing and determined, and shows Jenna that alcoholics can indeed change, but only if they have tremendous courage.
Alice Lovett is funny and assertive. She takes Jenna under her wing and helps her make some changes that make Jenna feel better about herself.