Baxter Dawes Timeline and Summary

More

Baxter Dawes Timeline and Summary

  • We first hear of Baxter as the estranged husband of Clara Dawes. The man doesn't really appear in the story, though, until he calls Paul Morel out in a pub for dating his wife.
  • Paul throws beer in his face, and Baxter freaks out, vowing revenge. He's the one who gets kicked out of the pub, because Paul has the higher social standing.
  • Even though Paul, like, totally started it.
  • Later, Baxter tries to confront Paul at work. But Paul slips away and Baxter loses his temper.
  • Baxters shoves his boss, Mr. Jordan, and gets fired.
  • One night, while walking, Baxter passes Paul and Clara. He doesn't realize that Paul hasn't noticed him, so when he hears Paul laughing, he assumes the laughter is directed at him.
  • Later, he catches Paul walking alone and beats the living daylights out of him.
  • Toward the end of the book, we find out that Baxter is laid up in a hospital suffering from a bad fever.
  • Paul comes to visit him, and the two slowly form a friendship.
  • Then, Baxter visits Paul in a cottage, where Clara eventually shows up.
  • Paul leaves them alone together, and Baxter reunites with Clara.
  • They're the only people in this book who get a remotely happy ending, so. Yay.