Character Relationship Map: Sanctuary

Characters

• Temple Drake (played by Lee Remick) — protagonist

  A college student who becomes involved with Gowan Stevens before a drunken drive leaves her stranded in the backwoods. After being raped by Candy Man, she later chooses to live with him and becomes de...

• Candy Man (played by Yves Montand) — supporting

  A bootlegger who runs a house where Temple and Gowan seek refuge after their car crashes. He rapes Temple, but she later willingly joins him and lives with him in New Orleans, remaining devoted despit...

• Gowan Stevens (played by Bradford Dillman) — supporting

  Temple's boyfriend when she is a college student, Gowan becomes drunk and drives recklessly with her, causing their car to crash in the backwoods. After Temple returns home, she reluctantly marries hi...

• Nancy Mannigoe (played by Odetta) — supporting

  A Black woman who works as Candy Man's maid and repeatedly warns Temple about the danger surrounding her. Later freed by Temple to serve as her maid, Nancy tries to stop Temple from leaving her family...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Nancy Mannigoe → Temple Drake (Professional Maid) — Nancy serves Temple within her household after being released from prison.

  After Temple frees Nancy from prison, Nancy becomes her maid.

• Temple Drake → Gowan Stevens (Family Husband) — Gowan is Temple's husband during her return to a privileged domestic life.

  After returning home, Temple reluctantly marries Gowan and has two sons with him.

• Temple Drake → Candy Man (Romantic Abusive Lover) — Their destructive romance dominates Temple's past and repeatedly threatens her later life.

  Temple is raped by Candy Man, later willingly submits to him, falls in love with him, and remains devoted despite his verbal and physical abuse.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Nancy Mannigoe → Candy Man (Conflict Moral Opponent) — Nancy opposes Candy's influence over Temple without directly confronting him.

  Nancy warns Temple about the evil surrounding her, while Candy later attempts to draw Temple away from her husband and children.

Story Analysis

A woman confronts the destructive past that links her survival to another woman's sacrifice.

Plot Progression

1. The Condemned Secret — Nancy faces execution for the infant's death. Temple attempts to save her by revealing the hidden history that led to the crime.
2. The Road To Candy — Temple's courtship with Gowan collapses into a dangerous backwoods ordeal. After the crash, Candy's house becomes the setting for Temple's assault and submission.
3. A Life In Captivity — Temple lives with Candy in a New Orleans brothel while Nancy warns her about the surrounding evil. Candy's apparent death finally sends Temple back to her former life.
4. Privilege And Return — Temple reluctantly marries Gowan and raises two sons. She later encounters Nancy in prison and frees her, bringing her into the household as a maid.
5. The Sacrifice Revealed — Candy returns and persuades Temple to flee, despite Nancy's pleas. The dead baby and Nancy's confession expose the sacrifice behind Temple's salvation.