Aristocracy Story-telling Setting Setting holds as much importance in Beach Music as its themes, or even the main character, Jack McCall. Pat Conroy acknowledged in an interview that the perception that he is "the product of a single landscape is actually false". As a military kid, Conroy moved often and lived in Rome, Italy for three years before finding his longest lasting home in Beaufort, South Carolina. Both of these locales hold great significance for Jack McCall in Beach Music. He runs from the traditions and his past in the southern atmosphere of South Carolina, and seeks refuge in the food and travel of Rome, Italy. Waterford, South Carolina represents all that Jack wishes to forget, namely his wife, Shyla's, suicidal jump off Silas Pearman Bridge. Rome, Italy represents the shield Jack uses to protect his daughter Leah from their family's tumultuous past, as well as his own discomfort with dealing with that past. Characters Jack McCall – The main character in the novel, Jack, is coping with the recent suicide of his wife, Shyla. A cookbook and travel writer, he flees Waterford to the peaceful life of a Roman Piazza with his daughter Leah. He is the oldest of the five McCall brothers. Jack is the narrator, and to some extent his character flaws and passions make him an unreliable narrator, though he's always an honest one. Leah McCall – the daughter of Jack McCall and Shyla Fox. There is an ugly custody dispute over Leah involving Jack and Shyla's parents (after her death), but a final letter that Shyla left for Jack proves his adequacy as a parent. Shyla Fox – Jack's wife, daughter of George and Ruth Fox. Commits suicide by jumping from the Silas Pearlman Bridge. Dupree McCall – The second oldest of the McCall brothers, Dupree works in the state mental hospital. His occupation often bears with it the burden of his younger brother, John Hardin, who has schizophrenia. Dallas McCall – The third oldest of the McCall brothers, he is a law partner with "The Judge" in Waterford. Tee McCall – The fourth oldest of the McCall brothers, Tee is a teacher for autistic children in Georgetown County. John Hardin McCall – The youngest of all five McCall brothers, John Hardin has a variety of psychological illnesses and often spends time in the mental hospital in Columbia, SC. Martha Fox – Shyla's younger sister.