When God Laughs · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in When God Laughs by Jack London.
Tom King
major
Also known as the King, Tom, old Tom King, King, All King, Twice King
An aging prizefighter struggling with poverty and his final bout.
Johnny Sheehan
supporting
Also known as little Johnny Sheehan, Little Johnny Sheehan
A young boxer who challenges Tom King in the ring.
Matthew Turner
major
Also known as Matt
A sailor and central figure in several maritime adventures.
George Dorety
supporting
Also known as George, Dorety, Mr. Dorety
A friend and fellow traveler in the South Seas.
Jim
supporting
A sailor and companion in various Pacific island tales.
Ah Cho
major
Also known as Chung Ga. But Ah Cho
A Chinese laborer caught in a colonial justice system.
Sandel
supporting
Also known as Evidently Sandel
A young boxer who fights Tom King in a brutal match.
Alexander Burrell
supporting
Also known as Al
A wealthy man entangled in a scandalous relationship.
Loretta
supporting
A woman involved in a love triangle with Alexander Burrell.
Yi Chin Ho
supporting
A Chinese prisoner awaiting execution in the Chinago story.
Dan Cullen
supporting
Also known as big Dan Cullen, Captain Dan Cullen, Captain Cullen
A tough captain and sailor in the Pacific.
The Boy
minor
A young sailor on a perilous voyage.
Monte Carquinez
supporting
Also known as Carquinez
A gambler and adventurer in the South Seas.
Stowsher Bill
supporting
Also known as Will, Billy, old Stowsher Bill, old Bill, Bill
An old sailor with a dark past.
Ned Bashford
supporting
Also known as Mr. Edward Bashford, Bashford
A ship captain involved in a mutiny plot.
Cruchot
minor
A French sailor with a violent temper.
O'Brien
minor
A sailor and participant in a shipboard conflict.
Karl Schemmer
minor
Also known as Schemmer, Undoubtedly Schemmer
A German sailor on a troubled ship.
John Gorman
minor
Also known as Gorman
A sailor involved in a mutiny.
Roger Vanderwater
minor
Also known as Vanderwater
A passenger on a ship facing disaster.
Mary Rogers
minor
Also known as Mary, The Mary Rogers, the Mary Rogers
A ship that becomes the center of a survival story.
Doctor Bicknell
supporting
Also known as Semper Idem Doctor Bicknell, Semper Idem
A doctor who treats a patient with a mysterious ailment.
Pak Chung Chang
minor
A Chinese prisoner in the Chinago story.
Sid Sullivan
minor
Also known as Sullivan
A sailor and friend of Matt Turner.
Ah Chow
minor
Also known as Ah
A Chinese laborer in the Chinago story.
Bloody Vange
minor
Also known as Vange
A notorious criminal and escapee.
Jack Hemingway
minor
Also known as Jack
A sailor and husband of Mrs. Hemingway.
Young Bill Vange
minor
Also known as Bill Vange, Vange
A young criminal associated with Bloody Vange.
Mrs. Hemingway
minor
A woman aboard a ship with her husband Jack.
Youth
minor
Also known as Ever Youth, Tonight Youth, Only Youth
A personification of youth in a philosophical tale.
Chung Ga
minor
Also known as Chung Ga. But Ah Cho
A Chinese prisoner in the Chinago story.
Love
minor
A personification of love in a philosophical tale.
The Doctor
minor
Also known as the doctor, The doctor
A doctor treating a patient in a story.
Mahoney
minor
A sailor and friend of Matt Turner.
Daisy
minor
A woman in a story about love and loss.
Tom Dixon
minor
A boxer and friend of Tom King.
Michael Behane
minor
Also known as Behane, Mike
A sailor involved in a mutiny.
Sly Vange
minor
Also known as Vange
A criminal associate of Bloody Vange.
Adolph Metzner
minor
Also known as Metzner
A German sailor on a troubled ship.
Joshua Higgins
minor
A sailor and participant in a shipboard conflict.
The Chinago
minor
Also known as A Chinago, Chinago
A generic term for a Chinese laborer in the story.
Captain Kitt
minor
A ship captain in a maritime tale.
Bujannoff
minor
A Russian sailor on a troubled ship.
Ah San
minor
Also known as Chung Ga. Ah San
A Chinese laborer in the Chinago story.
Charley Bates
minor
Also known as Chuck
A sailor and friend of Matt Turner.
Ralph Jacobus
minor
A passenger on a ship facing disaster.
Desire
minor
A personification of desire in a philosophical tale.
Joseph Clancy
minor
Also known as Clancy
A sailor involved in a mutiny.
Adolph Munster
minor
Also known as Munster
A German sailor on a troubled ship.
Doctor Bodineau
minor
A doctor in a story about a mysterious illness.
The Gouger
minor
Also known as the Woolloomoolloo Gouger
A notorious criminal mentioned in a story.
Burke
minor
A sailor and participant in a shipboard conflict.
Jack Ball
minor
Also known as Ball
A sailor and friend of Matt Turner.
