The Tuttles of Tahiti

Chester is a carefree merchant sailor who returns home with a fighting rooster. He embodies opportunism and charm, often relying on luck rather than preparation. His actions spur the family to chase quick profits after salvaging a ship, setting the plot in motion.

Jonas is the spendthrift patriarch who borrows and borrows; he signs the mortgage under the impression the rooster will win. He values family but is reckless with money, delaying obligations and trusting luck over planning. His financial imprudence drives the conflict with creditors and the loss-and-recovery arc of the story.

Emily is the pragmatic matriarch who manages the household and resists Tamara's romance with a penniless suitor. She is wary of debt and pushes for financial security, often acting as the voice of caution in a reckless family. Her stern but caring leadership helps the family weather the turmoil.

Blondin is the creditor who orchestrates debt transfers and loan arrangements that control the Tuttles’ fate. He is calculating and opportunistic, extending credit while maintaining a firm grip on assets. His involvement moves the plot from personal folly to the mechanics of financial leverage.

Jensen is the shrewd businessman who persuades the doctor to transfer the debt to him and seizes the mansion when money runs short. He embodies the external pressures of finance that push the family toward risk for a promised future. His presence escalates the tension between wealth, control, and security.

Tamara has grown into a beautiful young woman whose future is contested by fortune and family wishes. She is torn between love for Chester and Emily’s concern for status and money. Her romance reveals the clash between personal happiness and social expectations.