Surviving the Applewhites

Edith “E.D.“ Applewhite, the co-narrator of the story alongside Jake, is 12 years old and named after her mother’s favorite author, Edith Wharton. She adopts the moniker E.D. because she feels it’s more dignified, “like a corporate executive, which one day she just might be” (7). She has short hair and dresses plainly, her appearance reflecting her practicality over outward glamour.

Throughout the novel, E.D. undergoes a significant journey of Personal Growth and Transformation similar to Jake’s. Initially, she struggles to find her place within her own family, feeling like an outsider. She reflects that she “[doesn’t] know how she could have been born an Applewhite. She [isn’t] anything at all like the rest of them” (18). Unlike her artistically inclined family members, E.D. likes organization and structure, contrasting with their spontaneity and chaos. She often feels overlooked and excluded, particularly when her mother lists the family’s talents to Bernstein, leaving her out. E.D. is deeply invested in education and takes great care in planning her curriculum. She wants to equip herself with the skills necessary for the real world and is equally passionate about imparting her knowledge to Destiny. The theme of Individuality Versus Conformity is exemplified through E.D.’s character, as she emerges as a figure striving to carve out her own path, one that diverges from her family’s artistic eccentricity.

E.D. initially opposes the idea of welcoming Jake into their family and strives to maintain her individuality, especially at school. She becomes increasingly envious of Jake when he excels in the Butterfly Project by finding the missing specimen and suggests a more innovative approach by collecting the caterpillars. Her jealousy intensifies as Jake demonstrates creativity and talent, earning praise from her father for his singing. This sense of jealousy stems from feeling overshadowed by an outsider who seems to integrate more effortlessly into her family than she does.

As the story unfolds, E.D. gradually finds her place within her family, and her relationship with Jake evolves positively. When her father appoints her stage manager, she finally feels recognized for her abilities. E.D. proves herself to be resourceful and adept at problem-solving, such as using the fire extinguisher to put out the fire at the theater while others panic. Additionally, she comes up with the solution that saves the play: transforming the barn into a theatre. Her skills complement her family’s artistic talents seamlessly. Proud of her achievements, she reflects that “from the moment her father agreed to doing the show in the barn, she had focused everything she had on getting things organized and keeping them that way” (156). E.D.’s transformation is symbolized by the butterfly that lands on her hand in Chapter 27, representing her personal growth and maturity.

Randolph Applewhite is the father of the Applewhite children. He sports a goatee that his son Hal attempts to mimic. Randolph is a theater director, and his career is characterized by periods of unemployment. He is forgetful and often consumed by his work. He hates to wake up before 10 and frequently overlooks household responsibilities like grocery shopping.

In the novel, Randolph is tasked with directing The Sound of Music at the community theater, and he throws himself wholeheartedly into the project. However, his hot-headed nature makes him challenging to work with. When the entire crew quits, his wife Sybil accuses him of having “bullied and belittled those poor people until they couldn’t take it anymore” (113). Randolph’s stubbornness is evident when he refuses to cast the Montrose girl as Gretl, leading to the cancellation of the play. Randolph’s nature often leads to conflict with his wife, who feels he prioritizes his work over hers, leaving her feeling neglected.

Randolph is the mind behind the creation of the Creative Academy, sparked by his daughter Cordelia’s experience of being told at school that she couldn’t paint a zebra black and purple. He deeply values creativity and individuality, advocating that “without creativity and individuality, there would be no scientific discovery” (20).

Sybil Jameson is E.D.’s mother and Randolph’s wife. She prefers to go by Sybil instead of her birth name, Debbie, which she finds too common. Additionally, she retains her maiden name to preserve her sense of individuality.

Sybil is a writer known for her detective novels, the Petunia Grantham mysteries. Currently, she is engrossed in a new literary venture, aiming to create a more profound and intricate novel, which she describes as the “most important, the most difficult and complex literary work of my career” (49). She spends long hours secluded in her study, immersed in her writing, losing track of time, so much so that she forgets her scheduled interview with Bernstein.

Sybil feels underappreciated by her family, particularly her husband Randolph, whom she resents for prioritizing his projects over hers. She laments that she gets “no support from this family” (49). Furthermore, Sybil is discontented with the attention that Bernstein showers on the Applewhites for their artistic talents, craving the spotlight for herself. However, when the family prepares for The Sound of Music production, she sets aside her personal projects and frustrations to collaborate with Lucille on costume design.

Lucille Applewhite is Archie’s wife and lives with him at Wisteria Cottage. Despite not being born into the Applewhite family, she seamlessly integrates into their artistic clan. She is a poet by vocation and leads a workshop at Traybridge Middle School. Her eccentric personality is mirrored in her physical appearance, characterized by her distinctive frizzy blonde hair.

Lucille exudes positivity and generosity. E.D. notes that she has a “pathologically sunny” outlook on life and a “rose-colored view of things” (9). It’s this optimistic disposition that leads her to suggest taking in Jake, believing they can make a positive difference in his life. Her whimsical side shines through when she affectionately calls Jake a “radiant light being” (23). Lucille tends to her vegetable garden with great care, guided by her belief in nature spirits, which she claims inspired her to shape the garden in a circular fashion. Lucille is deeply spiritual, regularly practicing meditation and seeking guidance from her guru, Govindaswami, whom she welcomes to stay at Wit’s End.

Cordelia is E.D.’s older sister who initially captures Jake’s attention with her beauty. She is tall with “long, wavy auburn hair” (14) and often wears leotards. Like all Applewhites, she possesses artistic talent; E.D. reflects that “whatever creative activity she put her mind to, she did it really well” (18). At one point, she expresses her creativity through elaborate flower arrangements, which she scatters around the house.

However, in true Applewhite fashion, Cordelia swiftly shifts her focus, embracing a new passion: dancing. As her fall semester project, she is composing, playing, dancing, and choreographing The Death of Ophelia. As a result, she spends most of her time in the dance studio. Later, she channels her skills into choreographing The Sound of Music, showcasing her collaborative spirit within the family.

Hal is E.D.’s older brother. He’s 15 years old, dresses similarly to Jake in black clothes and is approximately the same size. He has long, reddish-brown hair tied in a ponytail and sports a goatee akin to Randolph’s.

Hal is an eccentric, reclusive figure within the Applewhite household. E.D. describes him as “not just a typical introverted artist” but “an actual recluse” (19). He rarely ventures out of his room, communicating from his window or through his door. Initially a painter, he later transitions to sculpting and hangs a sign outside his door that reads, “HAL APPLEWHITE, SCULPTOR.” He orders chicken wire and plaster and is often heard hammering away in his room. Eventually, he becomes involved as a set designer for The Sound of Music.

Hal only emerges from his room when the family joins forces to renovate the barn. That’s when Jake first encounters him and notices a resemblance between them. His decision to step out of his room and contribute to the family project highlights his collaborative spirit, which surpasses his individual artistic pursuits.

Destiny is the youngest Applewhite. He’s four years old and characterized by his boundless energy and curiosity. When he first meets Jake, his attention is immediately drawn to Jake’s red, spiky hair. He bombards Jake with questions about it: “How’d you get your hair that color? And how do you make it stand up in points that way?” (46). He even tries to style his hair into spikes and experiment with dye.

Destiny is very affectionate and quickly forms a strong bond with Jake, affectionately dubbing him “the bestest brother in the whole wide world” (116). This demonstrates his lack of prejudice and eagerness to embrace Jake as part of the family. At the novel’s end, he even asks Jake to dye his hair blonde, like his own.

Like the other Applewhites, Destiny possesses artistic talent. Sybil explains to Bernstein that he has an eye for color and talent in the visual arts, but he later surprises everyone with his singing abilities, earning him the role of Hans in The Sound of Music.

Archie Applewhite, Randolph’s brother and Lucille’s husband, is a wood sculptor who works with his father, Zedediah, at the wood shop in Wit’s End, crafting unique wooden furniture. He lives with Lucille at Wisteria Cottage.

Archie has an unconventional, eccentric personality. Unlike his brother, who finished college, Archie dropped out of high school to embark on global travels aboard a tramp steamer. Later, he obtained his G.E.D. to attend art school for a while. Archie crafts unconventional furniture pieces displayed in gallery exhibitions. His creations, showcased in gallery exhibitions, are described by Bernstein as “original and inventive” (55). They are designed more for display than practical use, such as his hippopotamus coffee table. Archie wakes up early in the morning, loudly grinding coffee beans as he prepares for his morning exercise, which often wakes Jake.

Zedediah is Randolph and Archie’s father. He introduces himself as the “patriarch of the Applewhite clan” (17) and symbolically sits at the head of the dinner table. Zedediah works at the wood shop with Archie, crafting practical wooden furniture in contrast to Archie’s more artistic and impractical designs. Zedediah is known for crafting his distinctive wooden chairs. He owns a parrot named Paulie, known for its ability to swear in different languages.

Zedediah is wise and kind, particularly with his grandchildren. E.D. finds solace in his presence, noting that he can always make her feel better. When E.D. confides in him about feeling overshadowed by Jake’s role in the musical, Zedediah offers reassurance, acknowledging that she has “talent. Very real, very important talent” (87). Unlike the other Applewhites, often preoccupied with their artistic pursuits, Zedediah empathizes with E.D.’s struggles and values her contributions. Similarly, when he assumes the role of teacher, he asks Jake what brings him joy, demonstrating his caring nature.

Jeremy Bernstein is a young journalist employed by a literary journal who visits Wit’s End to interview Sybil Jameson. He holds great admiration for Sybil, considering her to be working on “the literary masterpiece of the new century” (54). Bernstein is equally impressed by the artistic talents of the entire Applewhite family, leading him to decide to write a book about their unique and creative lives.

Bernstein initially reacts emotionally when his car is totaled, but Jeremy swiftly adjusts to the chaos of the Applewhite family. He even joins the theater production by playing the accordion, demonstrating his willingness to collaborate. Once the play is deemed successful and the television crew leaves, Bernstein writes a piece about how television’s mass-market focus cheapens art and decides to stay at Wit’s End to continue writing his book about the family.