Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Grew Up… with a caring sister. Although Mark’s family is relatively absent at this stage in his life, he still has a strong bond with his sister and brother-in-law who have a baby on the way.
Living… alone in a suburban household around the outskirts of Lumon headquarters. With such an easy commute one would expect it is hard for Mark to separate his home life from his work life. However, with the help of a groundbreaking procedure, Mark has severed all ties between each facet of his life. By having a computer chip implanted in his brain, he and his co-workers are unable to access any of their memories from home while at work and vice versa.
Profession… head of the Macro Data Refinement Department at Lumon Industries. Mark has led a successful career during his time at Lumon. Although it is hard to define what success really means, as not only does Mark not have a clue what he does for a living outside of work. But even on the inside, Lumon’s secretive nature keeps him from knowing exactly what kind of data he is handling. No one aside from a high-ranking inner circle knows for sure, leaving lower-ranking employees with nothing but speculation.
Interests… history. Mark is a former history Professor at the local college who gave it up when misfortune in his life made it too difficult for him to handle. He has since left behind any kind of intellectual persona and unfortunately does not seem to find interest in much of anything these days.
Relationship Status… widowed. However, he does not know this at work, likely a deliberate outcome. On the outside, he is single and trying to get out there, but his love for his late wife still radiates. He is trying his best to cope with the passing of his wife through severance and alcoholism. Being blissfully unaware while at work allows him to push those negative feelings away.
Challenge… questioning the secrecy and “the Eagan philosophy” at work. Mark is determined to figure out what’s going on at work and put a stop to whatever dangerous things the company may be pursuing. He thinks he and his co-workers deserve some answers. As he says, “Why are we down here still working in the dark?”
Personality… hardworking, loyal, and loving. Although he is often more reserved, it is abundantly clear that Mark cares about the people around him, whether it be through the undeniable love that he has for his late wife or the genuine care he shows for his coworkers. Mark values people and that is what makes him not just a great worker, but also a great leader.
