The Ragman’s Daughter

Tony grows from a thrill-seeking, petty thief in a poor neighbourhood to a middle-aged man who still relies on small thefts to feed his family. His charm and vulnerability mask a pattern of impulsive decisions that haunt him across decades. The memory of Doris and their failed romance informs his present choices and restlessness.

Doris is the daughter of a prosperous scrap merchant who longs for independence beyond her social obligations. Her relationship with Tony offers danger, thrill, and glimpses of a different life, but she is torn by expectations from her father and her own desires. After a troubled romance, she marries another man and faces tragedy that echoes in Tony's later life.

A successful, shrewd scrap merchant who embodies upward mobility through wealth. He disapproves of Tony as an unsuitable match for his daughter and uses his influence to steer her toward a different path. His actions catalyze the central conflict between love and social aspiration.

A working-class father figure who embodies the economic constraints and pragmatic concerns of Tony's youth. He supports his family and indirectly influences Tony's choices by modeling a life of labor and resilience in a tight market.

Tony's mother provides a counterpoint to the pressure from Doris' world, offering warmth and stability at home. She stands by Tony as the theft pattern emerges but also anchors him in family life.

A stern authority figure who oversees Tony's time in borstal, representing the system's attempt to reform wayward youth. The experience marks the end of Tony's teenage defiance and foreshadows his later life.