Character Relationship Map: Asylum

Characters

• Dr. Lionel Rutherford (played by Patrick Magee) — protagonist
• Byron (played by Herbert Lom) — supporting
• Lucy (played by Britt Ekland) — supporting
• George (played by James Villiers) — supporting
• Mr. Stebbins (played by John Franklyn-Robbins) — minor
• Barbara (played by Charlotte Rampling) — supporting
• Nurse Higgins (played by Megs Jenkins) — minor
• Dr. Martin (played by Robert Powell) — supporting
• Ruth (played by Sylvia Syms) — supporting
• Walter (played by Richard Todd) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Mr. Stebbins → Byron (Professional Collection Of Commissioned Suit)

  In the tailor's account, Mr. Stebbins is coming to collect the suit commissioned by the man later identified in the asylum visit as Byron.

• Dr. Lionel Rutherford → Byron (Professional Doctor And Patient)

  Rutherford introduces Byron as one of the asylum's patients during Martin's visit.

• Dr. Martin → Dr. Lionel Rutherford (Professional Interviewer And Candidate)

  Dr. Martin arrives at the asylum to interview for a senior houseman position, and Rutherford explains the institution and its patients.

Story Dynamics

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

• Lucy → Barbara (Conflict Disputed Accusation)

  The account says the woman later claims Lucy committed a killing, while the existence of Lucy, George, or Barbara is questioned.

• Lucy → George (Conflict Deception)

  Lucy says she had been hiding in the garage and arranged the call to get George and Nurse Higgins out of the house.

• George → Nurse Higgins (Social Leaves With)

  The account says the woman's husband leaves with Nurse Higgins after she receives news of an accident involving her mother.

• Ruth → Walter (Conflict Accused Of Strangling)

  The account says a woman was found beside Walter and accused of strangling him; she says Ruth and the hand were involved.

• Dr. Martin → Byron (Conflict Threatened Visitor And Patient)

  Rutherford introduces Martin to Byron, whose final lifelike creation bears Martin's face; Byron says he hopes to breathe his consciousness into one of...

Story Analysis

During an asylum interview, Dr. Martin hears troubling patient accounts before Byron's ambitions make the visit personally threatening.

Plot Progression

1. The Locked Institution
2. The Hand and the Missing Evidence
3. The Suit and the Family Account
4. Byron's Final Figure