Character Relationship Map: Havoc

Characters

• Dick Chappel (played by George O'Brien) — protagonist

  A British Army lieutenant serving on the Western Front, Dick is engaged in a romantic rivalry with Captain Roddy Dunton over Violet Deering. While home on leave, he carries Roddy's message to Violet,...

• Roddy Dunton (played by Walter McGrail) — supporting

  Captain Roddy Dunton is a British Army officer who becomes engaged to Violet Deering while competing with Lieutenant Dick Chappel for her affections. After Violet breaks their engagement, Roddy, anger...

• Violet Deering (played by Margaret Livingston) — supporting

  Violet Deering is courted by both Captain Roddy Dunton and Lieutenant Dick Chappel, and becomes engaged to Roddy. When Dick visits her on leave with a message from Roddy, Violet and Dick become involv...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Roddy Dunton → Violet Deering (Romantic Fiancé) — Roddy is Violet's fiancé until the engagement ends.

  Violet becomes engaged to Roddy Dunton before later breaking the engagement.

• Dick Chappel → Violet Deering (Romantic Courtship) — Dick courts Violet before her engagement to Roddy.

  Dick Chappel and Roddy Dunton court Violet Deering before she becomes engaged to Dunton.

Story Dynamics

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

• Roddy Dunton → Dick Chappel (Conflict Romantic Rival) — Roddy and Dick become rivals over Violet.

  Roddy and Dick court the same woman, Violet Deering, and Roddy becomes angered after Violet breaks their engagement.

Story Analysis

A romantic rivalry becomes a wartime tragedy driven by jealousy, revenge, remorse, and survival.

Plot Progression

1. Courtship Before War — Dick Chappel and Roddy Dunton court Violet Deering in England. Violet chooses Roddy and becomes engaged to him, while Dick accepts her decision.
2. A Message From The Front — Serving on the Western Front, Dick goes on leave and brings Violet a message from Roddy. The visit changes the emotional balance among the three characters.
3. The Broken Engagement — Violet becomes infatuated with Dick, and their embrace is seen. Violet then breaks her engagement with Roddy, creating the film's central personal rupture.
4. Revenge In The Trenches — Back at the front, Roddy is angered by the broken engagement. He persuades Dick to participate in a reckless attack, secretly hoping Dick will be killed.
5. Wounds And Remorse — Dick survives the attack but is badly wounded. Roddy becomes remorseful and shoots himself, turning jealousy into irreversible tragedy.
6. Homecoming And Recovery — Dick returns home, denounces Violet, and is nursed back to health. The personal conflict ends in survival rather than reconciliation.