"Last Car to Elysian Fields" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

In "Last Car to Elysian Fields" by James Lee Burke, the protagonist, Dave Robicheaux, is a detective who becomes entangled in a dangerous mystery. He is accompanied by a cast of characters including his love interest, Helen Soileau, his daughter, Alafair Robicheaux, his best friend, Clete Purcel, and the antagonist, Dixie Lee Pugh.

Character Descriptions

• Dave Robicheaux: Dave is a seasoned detective with a troubled past. He is a middle-aged man with a strong physique, graying hair, and a weathered face. He is known for his sharp intuition and unwavering commitment to justice.
• Helen Soileau: Helen is a beautiful woman in her thirties who captures Dave's attention. She has striking blue eyes, long brown hair, and a warm smile. She is intelligent, compassionate, and becomes a source of strength for Dave throughout the story.
• Alafair Robicheaux: Alafair is Dave's teenage daughter. She is a bright and curious girl with a love for books and writing. She has her father's dark hair and eyes, and her presence brings both joy and concern to Dave's life.
• Clete Purcel: Clete is Dave's loyal and unpredictable best friend. He is a heavyset man with a rugged appearance, often seen wearing Hawaiian shirts and a Panama hat. Clete has a rough past and a tendency to indulge in alcohol and violence, but he remains fiercely loyal to Dave.
• Dixie Lee Pugh: Dixie Lee is the main antagonist of the story, a dangerous criminal with a troubled past. He is described as a tall and imposing man with a menacing presence. Dixie Lee is manipulative, cunning, and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Character Traits

• Dave Robicheaux: Dave is courageous, determined, and morally upright. He possesses a strong sense of justice and is willing to risk his own safety to protect others. However, he also struggles with his own inner demons and has a propensity for self-destruction.
• Helen Soileau: Helen is kind-hearted, intelligent, and compassionate. She serves as a calming influence on Dave, providing him with emotional support and stability. She is also fiercely independent and refuses to be a mere damsel in distress.
• Alafair Robicheaux: Alafair is curious, intelligent, and mature beyond her years. She is a source of inspiration for Dave and often reminds him of the importance of doing what is right. Alafair has a strong sense of justice and a knack for uncovering clues that others may overlook.
• Clete Purcel: Clete is unpredictable, fiercely loyal, and has a volatile temper. He is a flawed character with a troubled past, but his friendship with Dave is unbreakable. Clete often serves as Dave's voice of reason and his willingness to bend the rules sometimes leads to conflict.
• Dixie Lee Pugh: Dixie Lee is manipulative, cunning, and ruthless. He knows how to exploit people's weaknesses and uses fear and intimidation to control those around him. He is a formidable adversary for Dave and poses a constant threat throughout the story.

Character Background

• Dave Robicheaux: Dave is a former New Orleans police officer who now works as a detective in the small town of New Iberia, Louisiana. He is haunted by his experiences in Vietnam and struggles with alcoholism. Dave is a widower, having lost his wife in a tragic accident.
• Helen Soileau: Helen is a successful lawyer who recently moved to New Iberia. She is originally from Baton Rouge and has a troubled past of her own. Helen is drawn to Dave's strength and integrity, and their relationship begins to blossom amidst the chaos of the investigation.
• Alafair Robicheaux: Alafair is Dave's only daughter, born from his first marriage. Her mother died when she was young, and Alafair has grown up under Dave's watchful eye. She is intelligent and ambitious, with dreams of becoming a writer.
• Clete Purcel: Clete is a former police officer who has had a tumultuous career filled with corruption and violence. He and Dave formed a strong bond during their time on the force and have remained friends ever since. Clete struggles with his own demons and often finds himself on the wrong side of the law.
• Dixie Lee Pugh: Dixie Lee is a career criminal with a long history of violence and manipulation. He has connections to organized crime and uses his influence to further his own criminal enterprises. Dixie Lee is feared by many and has a reputation for being ruthless and unforgiving.

Character Arcs

• Dave Robicheaux: Over the course of the story, Dave undergoes a personal transformation as he confronts his past traumas and battles his inner demons. He starts off as a flawed and self-destructive character but gradually finds redemption and closure through his pursuit of justice.
• Helen Soileau: Helen's character arc revolves around her growing relationship with Dave and her own journey of self-discovery. As she becomes more involved in Dave's investigation, she learns to trust her instincts and confront her own fears.
• Alafair Robicheaux: Alafair's character arc centers around her coming of age and finding her own voice. Through her interactions with Dave and witnessing the injustices around her, she begins to understand the complexities of the world and the importance of standing up for what is right.
• Clete Purcel: Clete's character arc is one of redemption and self-acceptance. He grapples with his own destructive tendencies but ultimately finds purpose and a sense of belonging through his friendship with Dave. Clete's loyalty to Dave is unwavering, and he becomes a key player in the resolution of the story.
• Dixie Lee Pugh: Dixie Lee's character arc revolves around his relentless pursuit of power and control. He will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, but his actions ultimately lead to his downfall as he underestimates the determination and resourcefulness of Dave and his allies.

Relationships

• Dave and Helen: Dave and Helen's relationship serves as a source of strength and support for both characters. They find solace in each other's company and their love becomes a driving force in their pursuit of justice.
• Dave and Alafair: The relationship between Dave and Alafair is a complex one, filled with love and concern. Dave is fiercely protective of his daughter, and Alafair looks up to her father as a role model. Their bond is tested throughout the story, but it ultimately strengthens their resolve to fight for what is right.
• Dave and Clete: Dave and Clete's friendship is the backbone of the story. They share a deep understanding of each other's flaws and have each other's backs no matter the cost. Their loyalty and camaraderie provide moments of levity in an otherwise dark and gritty narrative.
• Dave and Dixie Lee: Dave and Dixie Lee's relationship is one of adversaries. They are constantly at odds, with Dixie Lee representing everything Dave stands against. Their clash of personalities and ideologies drives the tension and conflict in the story.

In conclusion, "Last Car to Elysian Fields" by James Lee Burke introduces a compelling cast of characters with their own unique backgrounds, traits, and relationships. The character arcs and interactions between these characters drive the narrative forward, creating a gripping and emotionally resonant story.