To Have And Have Not

The novel’s exemplar “Have Not,” the protagonist is a victim of rich men’s entitlement, and he must renege on his convictions in order to do right by his family. At 42 years of age, he has lived long enough to recognize others’ duplicity and inadequacies, and he reacts in the moment, living according to a moral code only he can understand. The most vulnerable moments in Harry’s story are those with his wife, Marie, with whom he shares a loving and intimate relationship. It is for her and his three daughters that he undertakes a life of cargo smuggling and illegal activity.

Harry’s status as a “Have Not” seals his fate. His focus on self-preservation drives his character development, as he makes every decision—even the decision to murder—with the intent of providing for his family. A natural stoic, Harry maintains a singular focus. Even in his death, he remains a proponent of the individual, dedicated to independence, ready to face the consequences of his actions—and he is a character primarily of action. He acts, and he acts, and he acts; not one for philosophizing, Harry relentlessly puts forth effort to survive and secure his family’s survival.