Character Relationship Map: The Devil's Advocate

Characters

• Kevin Lomax (played by Keanu Reeves) — protagonist

  Kevin Lomax is a Florida defense attorney who has never lost a case. Although he realizes that Gettys is guilty, he destroys the victim's credibility and wins the acquittal. In New York, he joins John...

• John Milton (played by Al Pacino) — protagonist

  John Milton is the powerful head of the New York law firm that recruits Kevin Lomax. He manipulates Kevin into sacrificing Mary Ann and defending clients he suspects are guilty, while concealing his s...

• Eddie Barzoon (played by Jeffrey Jones) — supporting

  Eddie Barzoon is the managing partner of John Milton's firm. After finding Kevin's name on the firm's charter, he suspects that Kevin wants his position and threatens to expose the firm's dubious acti...

• Weaver (played by Vyto Ruginis) — supporting

  Weaver is a United States Department of Justice agent investigating the clandestine activities of John Milton's firm. He warns Kevin that Milton is corrupt and explains that Gettys, whom Kevin helped...

• Gettys' Son (played by Jonathan Cavallary) — minor
• Barbara's Father (played by Murphy Guyer) — minor
• Barbara (played by Heather Matarazzo) — minor
• Melissa Black (played by Laura Harrington) — minor

  Melissa Black is Alexander Cullen's secretary and a witness in his murder trial. While preparing her testimony, Kevin realizes that she is lying to create a false alibi for Cullen. Kevin informs John...

• Christabella (played by Connie Nielsen) — supporting

  Christabella is Kevin's co-worker and the woman he fantasizes about while defending Alexander Cullen. John Milton later reveals that she is Kevin's half-sister and intends for them to conceive the Ant...

• Gettys (played by Chris Bauer) — minor

  Gettys is a schoolteacher defended by Kevin in Gainesville on a child-molestation charge. Kevin realizes that Gettys is guilty but attacks the victim's credibility and secures an acquittal. Afterward,...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Barbara's Father → Barbara (father)
• Gettys' Son → Gettys (son)
• Christabella → Kevin Lomax (Family Half-Sister) — Their newly revealed kinship becomes central to Milton's final temptation.

  Milton reveals that Christabella is Kevin's half-sister and proposes that they conceive the Antichrist.

• Eddie Barzoon → Kevin Lomax (Professional Rival) — Eddie views Kevin as a threat within the firm's hierarchy.

  Eddie believes Kevin covets his position after discovering Kevin's name on the firm's charter.

• John Milton → Melissa Black (Power Witness Controller) — Milton enables the use of testimony he knows is morally suspect.

  After Kevin identifies Melissa's false alibi, Milton offers to support the defense anyway.

• Kevin Lomax → Melissa Black (Professional Trial Counsel) — Kevin questions Melissa's testimony but proceeds with the case after Milton supports him.

  Kevin prepares Melissa to testify and discovers that her alibi for Cullen is false.

• Kevin Lomax → Gettys (Professional Defense Attorney) — Kevin's professional duty conflicts with his knowledge that Gettys is guilty.

  Kevin defends Gettys in the Florida child-molestation trial and secures an acquittal through harsh cross-examination.

• Kevin Lomax → John Milton (Professional Employer) — Milton employs Kevin and draws him into the firm's increasingly dangerous activities.

  John Milton offers Kevin a position at his New York law firm and assigns him major cases.

• John Milton → Christabella (Family Father) — Christabella is part of Milton's plan to extend his lineage.

  Milton reveals that Christabella is Kevin's half-sister, establishing Milton as her shared father with Kevin.

Story Dynamics

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

• Weaver → Kevin Lomax (Alliance Warning Informant) — Weaver provides Kevin with crucial information before his death.

  Weaver tells Kevin that Milton is corrupt and reveals the consequences of Kevin's earlier acquittal.

• Weaver → John Milton (Conflict Investigator) — Weaver is an external threat to Milton's hidden operations.

  Weaver investigates the clandestine activities of Milton's firm and warns Kevin that Milton is corrupt.

• Eddie Barzoon → John Milton (Conflict Suspicious Partner) — Eddie's suspicion makes him a threat to Milton's organization.

  Eddie investigates the firm's charter and threatens to report its dubious activities to the United States Attorney's office.

Story Analysis

A successful attorney confronts the consequences of choosing victory over conscience while a hidden supernatural power exploits his ambition.

Plot Progression

1. The Perfect Defense — Kevin wins a case despite knowing that Gettys is guilty. His success attracts Milton's New York firm and begins the central temptation.
2. Success in Manhattan — Kevin accepts Milton's offer and becomes absorbed in prestigious legal work. His ambition grows as his personal responsibilities recede.
3. The Cost of Victory — Eddie's death and Melissa's false alibi expose the firm's corruption. Kevin nevertheless wins another acquittal and deepens his moral compromise.
4. Satan's Revelation — Weaver warns Kevin about Milton before dying, and Milton's hidden identity is exposed. Milton explains that Kevin's own choices enabled the corruption.
5. A Second Choice — Milton reveals the family connection involving Christabella and proposes a final plan. Kevin rejects the temptation, returns to the beginning, and refuses Gettys's defense.