Character Relationship Map: The Trip

Characters

• Paul Groves (played by Peter Fonda) — protagonist

  Paul Groves is a television commercial director undergoing the film's central psychological journey. While suffering from the heartbreak and ambivalence of divorce from his adulterous wife, he takes L...

• John (played by Bruce Dern) — supporting

  John serves as Paul's initial guide during his first LSD experience. He begins the trip with Paul, but Paul becomes frightened and runs away, abandoning him. His brief role establishes Paul's fear and...

• Max (played by Dennis Hopper) — supporting

  Max is another friendly guide who assists Paul during the LSD trip. Unlike John's abandoned guidance at the beginning, Max is associated with Paul's later wandering experience and helps frame the diso...

• Glenn (played by Salli Sachse) — supporting

  Glenn is a young woman interested in people who take LSD and has been watching out for Paul since learning that he planned to use it. She drives him to her Malibu beach house, where they make love ami...

• Wife (played by Mitzi Hoag) — minor

  Wife is Paul's adulterous spouse, whose divorce-related heartbreak and ambivalence motivate his first LSD experience. During his recurring visions of dark, hooded pursuers on black horses, Paul is dri...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Glenn → Wife (Meta Shared Vision Figure)

  When Paul turns toward the pursuers, they reveal themselves to be his wife and Glenn.

• Paul Groves → Wife (Romantic Estranged Spouses)

  Paul is experiencing the heartbreak and ambivalence of divorce from his wife, whose adultery is explicitly mentioned.

Story Dynamics

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

• Glenn → Paul Groves (Social Watcher)

  After learning that Paul would take LSD, Glenn has been looking out for him.

• Max → Paul Groves (Alliance Friendly Guide)

  Max is described as another friendly guide to Paul's trip.

• Paul Groves → John (Alliance Guide)

  Paul starts his LSD trip with John, who functions as his guide.

Story Analysis

Paul's first LSD experience transforms personal anguish, desire, and fear into a surreal confrontation with his relationships.

Plot Progression

1. A Fractured Beginning
2. Pursuit Through Altered Streets
3. Desire And Self-Examination
4. Malibu Intimacy
5. Facing The Pursuers
6. An Unanswered Tomorrow