66 pages • 2 hours read
Rusty is the protagonist and narrator of Presumed Innocent. He is almost 40 years old when the novel begins and is the chief deputy for the Kindle County prosecuting attorney. Rusty’s background in a working-class neighborhood, son to an abusive and distant father, shapes the features of both his personal and professional lives. Although Rusty is presented as a wholly credible and authoritative narrator, he is an unreliable narrator, as he withholds information to protect his wife, Barbara.
Rusty is both capable and loyal, running the prosecutor’s office while Raymond campaigns, in addition to his other duties. Rusty shows himself to be both observant and intelligent as he uses the time in trial for the charge of murder to assess the legal strategy and character of everyone involved in the trial.
Rusty’s character arc involves coming to terms with Carolyn’s death, his obsession with her, and finally, the fact that his wife Barbara killed her and potentially framed him. By the end of the novel, Rusty understands that his attraction to Carolyn was based in his instinctual understanding of her as someone with a similarly difficult background as himself.
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Challenging Authority
View Collection
Family
View Collection
Fathers
View Collection
Forgiveness
View Collection
Guilt
View Collection
Jewish American Literature
View Collection
Loyalty & Betrayal
View Collection
Marriage
View Collection
Mothers
View Collection
Power
View Collection
Pride Month Reads
View Collection
Revenge
View Collection
The Past
View Collection
True Crime & Legal
View Collection
Truth & Lies
View Collection