Character Relationship Map: Lassie

Characters

• Matthew Turner (played by Tom Guiry) — protagonist

  Matthew Turner is the thirteen-year-old son at the center of the story. After moving with his family, he feels isolated and struggles with his father's remarriage, but gradually adapts with help from...

• Laura Turner (played by Helen Slater) — supporting

  Laura Turner is Steve's new wife and a member of the family trying to establish a new life after moving to a rural community. Her marriage to Steve contributes to Matthew's emotional difficulties foll...

• Steve Turner (played by Jon Tenney) — supporting

  Steve Turner is Matthew's father and Laura's new husband. He moves the family in search of a fresh start, but his planned job falls through, creating financial and practical difficulties. With support...

• Len Collins (played by Richard Farnsworth) — supporting

  Len Collins is Matthew's grandfather and an important source of support during the family's troubled transition. When Steve's planned job fails, Len helps Matthew persuade the family to establish a sh...

• Sam Garland (played by Frederic Forrest) — supporting

  Sam Garland is a wealthy sheep farmer and the Turners' ruthless neighbor. He opposes their new farm because it would occupy grazing land he has used, then uses his sons and hired helpers to steal thei...

• Jim Garland (played by Charlie Hofheimer) — supporting

  Jim Garland is Sam's son and a schoolmate of Matthew who, like his brother, dislikes him. He assists in the conflict surrounding the stolen sheep and the escaped dog, catching up with Matthew and Josh...

• April Porter (played by Michelle Williams) — supporting

  April Porter is a fellow student whose interest in Matthew creates tension with Josh. Josh likes her, but she is more interested in Matthew, intensifying Josh's hostility toward him at school. Althoug...

• Josh Garland (played by Clayton Barclay Jones) — supporting

  Josh Garland is Sam's son and one of Matthew's schoolmates. He dislikes Matthew largely because of jealousy over April's interest in him, and he later helps his father interfere with the Turners and t...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Sam Garland → Jim Garland (Family Father And Son) — Jim joins his father's opposition to the Turners.

  The plot identifies Jim as Sam's son and says he assists in the conflict surrounding the stolen sheep.

• Sam Garland → Josh Garland (Family Father And Son) — Josh participates in his father's campaign against the Turners.

  The plot identifies Josh as Sam's son and says he helps his father interfere with the Turners.

• April Porter → Matthew Turner (Romantic Interest) — Her interest in Matthew helps explain Josh's hostility toward him.

  The plot states that April is more interested in Matthew than in Josh.

• Josh Garland → April Porter (Romantic Unreciprocated Interest) — Josh's interest in April contributes to his jealousy of Matthew.

  The plot says Josh likes April, while she is more interested in Matthew.

• Matthew Turner → Len Collins (Family Grandson And Grandfather) — Len supports Matthew and helps him advance the family's farming plan.

  The plot identifies Len as Matthew's grandfather and says he helps Matthew persuade the family to start a sheep farm.

• Matthew Turner → Laura Turner (Family Stepson And Stepmother) — Matthew's adjustment to Laura's place in the family is part of his emotional struggle.

  Laura is Steve's new wife, and Matthew struggles with his father's remarriage after his mother's death.

• Steve Turner → Laura Turner (Family Husband And Wife) — They are a married couple building a new life with the family.

  The plot states that Steve remarried Laura after Matthew's mother died.

• Matthew Turner → Steve Turner (Family Father And Son) — Their relationship is strained by the move and Matthew's feelings about his father's remarriage.

  The plot identifies Steve as Matthew's father and describes Matthew's struggle to accept Steve's remarriage.

Story Dynamics

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

• Steve Turner → Len Collins (Alliance Family Supporters) — Len's support helps the family pursue a practical alternative to Steve's failed job plan.

  Len helps Matthew persuade the family to start a sheep farm after Steve's planned job falls through.

• Matthew Turner → Jim Garland (Conflict Adversaries) — Jim joins his family's opposition and is involved in the dangerous pursuit.

  Jim dislikes Matthew, assists in the conflict involving the stolen sheep, and catches up with Matthew and Josh after the sheep are recovered.

• Matthew Turner → Josh Garland (Conflict School Rivals) — Jealousy and the Garland family's opposition fuel their antagonism.

  Josh dislikes Matthew because April is more interested in Matthew, and Josh later helps interfere with the Turners and their animals.

• Steve Turner → Sam Garland (Conflict Neighboring Rivals) — Their conflict centers on the grazing land and the Turners' attempt to establish a sheep farm.

  Sam is the Turners' neighbor and opposes their farm because it would occupy grazing land he has used.

• Matthew Turner → Sam Garland (Conflict Adversary) — Sam's hostility places Matthew and his family in direct conflict with him.

  Sam opposes the Turners' sheep farm and, with help from his sons and hired helpers, steals their sheep and kidnaps the dog the family took in.

Story Analysis

After a difficult move, Matthew finds companionship and purpose while his family establishes a sheep farm and faces conflict with a neighboring farmer.

Plot Progression

1. A New Home and a New Bond — The Turner family moves to Franklin Falls, where Matthew feels isolated and struggles with his father's remarriage. The family takes in a stray collie, which saves Matthew from a wolf and becomes his...
2. A Farm Takes Root — Steve's planned job falls through, and Matthew and Len help persuade the family to start a sheep farm linked to Matthew's mother's dream. Sam opposes the plan because it uses grazing land he has relie...
3. Stolen Sheep and Escape — Sam and his sons steal the Turners' sheep and kidnap the dog. The dog escapes, and Matthew recovers the herd, but Josh and Jim catch up with them.
4. River Peril and Homecoming — A scuffle by a raging river puts Josh in danger, and Matthew saves him before being swept into peril himself. The dog saves Matthew but goes over the waterfall; Sam apologizes, the family holds a memo...