Richard Maple
Based upon Updike himself, Richard is husband to Joan and father to three kids. When first introduced in “Snowing in Greenwich Village” the couple have been married for two years. He is representative of much of his generation in the 1960’s with his support for the war in Vietnam. He is also representative of his generation in expressing casual sexism and objectifying women. His flirtatious quality make it clear pretty early on that this marriage will be in trouble.
Joan Maple
Joan is Richard’s wife and while the collection charts the crumbling of their marriage, it might actually be more accurate to say Joan is the mother of Richard’s children. Almost from the beginning, Joan seems curiously detached emotionally from her husband. She holds more progressive political views and is somewhat less of a traditional representative of her generation in working part time and enjoying a promiscuity more in line with those half a generation younger.
Judith Maple
The eldest child is the first-born daughter, Judith. Her reaction to the clear evidence of the marriage of parents coming apart at the seams might be termed mature, but another way to characterize might denial through a concerted effort at disinterest. She seems to align more with the general conservatism of her father while at the same demonstrated a much closer physical association with her mother.
Dickie Maple
First-born son Dickie Maple ultimately will send a shock of non-recognition through his parents with their eventual admission to their marriage being over and done. While expecting a more intense emotional response, Dickie demonstrates a closeness to his sister by revealing that he has been studying and emotionally replicating her own version of denial and detachment.
John Maple
The second boy of the family, John, does respond emotionally as expected, however. Even though by the time the ugly truth is finally no longer being denied, hidden or covered up, John is too old to really quality as a little kid. Nevertheless, it is he who comes through with the tantrum of abject rejection of the truth which had been expected of his older brother.
Margaret (who is longer called Bean)
The second-born daughter of Richard and Joan is Margaret. As the baby of the family, she earns the nickname Bean, but upon reaching a certain age of maturity decides to cast off that ignominy in favor of her given her name, Margaret. The maturity that is symbolized by the rejection of the nickname is more profoundly demonstrated by the fact that though she the youngest of the kids, she also seems to accept the announcement of the end of her parents’ marriage with an equanimity suggesting she has seen this coming for some time.
