Character Relationship Map: Convicts

Characters

• Soll Gautier (played by Robert Duvall) — protagonist

  Central figure navigating early 20th century Texas social and family dynamics.

• Horace Robedaux (played by Lukas Haas) — protagonist

  Convicted murderer seeking redemption and grappling with past crimes.

• Martha Johnson (played by Starletta DuPois) — supporting

  Ben's wife representing domestic stability amid penal turmoil.

Canonical Relationships

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

• Soll Gautier → Horace Robedaux (Professional Employer And Trustee) — Horace performs work at Soll's plantation as a trustee, and Soll expresses an intention to leave him his property.

  Horace is described as a convict allowed to work as a trustee and help around Soll's plantation. Soll discusses Horace's life sentence with him and sa...

Story Dynamics

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

• Soll Gautier → Martha Johnson (Social Caretaker And Dependent) — Martha handles Soll's requests and confusion while his health declines.

  The plot says Martha tries to manage Soll's repeated demands as his confusion grows.

Story Analysis

Soll's declining health and growing confusion unfold alongside the uncertain lives of the convicts on his plantation.

Plot Progression

1. The Escape Disturbs Christmas — A convict escapes after killing another, and the news reaches Soll's plantation. The household's Christmas preparations are unsettled by the death and the sheriff's actions.
2. Soll Loses His Bearings — Soll repeatedly asks about Christmas and the dead convict as his confusion deepens. His mistaken belief about the burial ground culminates in firing at imagined targets.
3. The Coffin and the Promise — As Soll's health declines, he questions Horace about the life sentence and promises him an inheritance. He orders a coffin and tests it by climbing inside.
4. Death and an Uncertain Future — A sick convict dies while Soll's decline continues. Soll dies alone in the coffin, and his attendant faces uncertainty about whether he will be returned to prison.