Character Relationship Map: Down with Love

Characters

• Barbara Novak (played by Renée Zellweger) — protagonist

  Barbara Novak is an aspiring author whose book advocates female independence, sex without commitment, and freedom from romantic dependence. Her campaign makes the book a sensation and challenges Catch...

• Catcher Block (played by Ewan McGregor) — protagonist

  Catcher Block is a successful writer for Know magazine and a notorious womanizer whose reputation becomes the target of Barbara Novak's book campaign. He disguises himself as Major Zip Martin to make...

• Vikki Hiller (played by Sarah Paulson) — supporting

  Vikki Hiller is Barbara Novak's editor at Banner House and the person who helps connect her with Catcher Block to promote the book. She develops a mutual attraction with Peter MacMannus, initially dou...

• Peter MacMannus (played by David Hyde Pierce) — supporting

  Peter MacMannus is Catcher Block's boss and best friend, but he feels overshadowed by Catcher's forceful personality. He is attracted to Vikki Hiller, who initially assumes he is gay because he does n...

• Dry Cleaner's Wife (played by Florence Stanley) — minor
• Dry Cleaner (played by Robert Katims) — minor
• Gwendolyn (played by Jeri Ryan) — minor

  Gwendolyn is one of Catcher Block's lovers. When she enters his apartment during his attempt to seduce Barbara Novak, she unknowingly reveals Catcher's true identity and ruins his disguise. After lear...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Dry Cleaner's Wife → Dry Cleaner (wife)
• Gwendolyn → Catcher Block (Romantic Former Lover) — Gwendolyn's prior relationship with Catcher exposes his deception.

  One of Catcher's lovers, Gwendolyn, walks into his apartment while he is with Barbara.

• Vikki Hiller → Peter MacMannus (Romantic Interest) — Their restrained attraction forms the film's parallel romance.

  The plot states that Vikki and Peter develop a mutual attraction but are initially too afraid to express their feelings.

• Barbara Novak → Vikki Hiller (Professional Editor) — Vikki guides Barbara's publishing and publicity strategy.

  Vikki is identified as Barbara's editor and suggests that Barbara meet Catcher to promote the book.

• Barbara Novak → Catcher Block (Romantic Interest) — Their attraction develops through deception, rejection, and changing expectations about love.

  Barbara becomes infatuated with the man she believes is Major Zip Martin, while Catcher begins falling for her during his deception.

Story Dynamics

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

• Catcher Block → Vikki Hiller (Unknown Friend's Romantic Complication) — Catcher's schemes and Peter's loyalty directly complicate Vikki and Peter's romance.

  Vikki insults Peter for helping Catcher, and Peter responds by taking Vikki to Catcher's apartment.

• Gwendolyn → Barbara Novak (Narrative Unwitting Informant) — Gwendolyn unintentionally gives Barbara the information needed to uncover the scheme.

  Gwendolyn reveals Catcher's identity to Barbara without knowing who Barbara is.

• Peter MacMannus → Catcher Block (Social Best Friend) — Peter is Catcher's closest personal companion and workplace ally.

  Catcher's boss and best friend is identified as Peter MacMannus.

Story Analysis

A romantic battle over independence, deception, and whether love can exist without surrendering personal identity.

Plot Progression

1. A Book Against Romance — Barbara arrives in New York with a book advocating female independence from love and men. After Banner House executives reject its message, Vikki helps her seek a publicity solution.
2. The Publicity War — Catcher avoids Barbara while Peter and Vikki begin an uncertain attraction. Television promotion makes the book a huge success and turns Catcher into Barbara's public example of bad masculinity.
3. The Zip Martin Deception — Catcher disguises himself as Major Zip Martin to prove that Barbara secretly wants romance and marriage. His performance succeeds emotionally, but he unexpectedly falls for the woman he intends to man...
4. Truth Behind The Mask — Catcher arranges a recording trap at his apartment, but Gwendolyn exposes his identity. Barbara then reveals her own hidden connection to Catcher and rejects his marriage proposal.
5. Finding The Middle Ground — Catcher becomes depressed after losing Barbara and fails to use his exposé to win her back. He honestly describes how she changed him, and Barbara returns with a new appearance that represents emotion...