<Ul> <Li> Evan Hansen -- A high school senior who struggles with severe social anxiety . He is assigned by his therapist to write letters to himself about why each day will be good , which becomes the catalyst for the plot of the story . He also has never had any friends , and has had a crush on Zoe Murphy for a very long time . After Connor 's death , he begins to tell lies of him being friends with Connor to the Murphy family because they found Evan 's letter to himself folded up in Connor 's pocket ; they thought Connor wrote it to Evan . The first act centers on his outreach propelled by Connor 's death , while the second act has him unleash his yearning towards the Murphys and his anger towards Heidi and Jared , who he believes have used him for validation and ignored him when they did n't need him . </Li> <Li> Heidi Hansen -- Evan 's mother , a nurse 's aide who attends paralegal school at night , often leaving Evan on his own as a result . She tries to connect with Evan , but struggles because she does n't personally understand what he goes through on a daily basis . Having been left by her ex-husband years prior to raise Evan on her own , she exhibits possessive and jealous behavior once she learns of the Murphys ' interest in securing Evan 's future . However , she comes to see her failings and Evan 's concealed sorrow as a wake - up - call not to hide from her son . </Li> <Li> Zoe Murphy -- Connor 's younger sister and Evan 's longtime crush . She was never close to Connor , hated him even , but wishes she had known him better and turns to Evan after he lies and says he was friends with Connor . She is initially mad at Evan when he comes clean about the lies , but eventually forgives him . </Li> <Li> Cynthia Murphy -- Connor and Zoe 's stay - at - home mother . She is constantly trying to keep her fragile family from falling apart , but is often unsuccessful . She clings to the memory of Connor even though she was never close with him , and her relationship with Larry and Zoe suffers because of it . The second act elaborates on her past attempts at coaxing Connor through expensive retreats , and her bitterness towards her husband 's distance . </Li> <Li> Larry Murphy -- Connor and Zoe 's busy father . He works hard to give his family a relatively easy life , but he is emotionally distant from all three of them . He becomes close with Evan , who never had a strong father figure , and begins to see Evan as the son Connor never was . However , as the letter becomes public , he 's faced with his role in Connor 's alienation and the truth behind Evan 's outreach . </Li> <Li> Connor Murphy - A high school senior who is also a social outcast with no friends , like Evan . He is a frequent drug user , and becomes aggressive when he is high . He is very protective of his sister Zoe , even though they are not close . He commits suicide early on , but his image returns in Evan 's imagination to guide him . Evan 's imaginary version of Connor is likable , contributing to Evan 's belief that they could have been friends . His death is the basis of the whole story . </Li> <Li> Alana Beck -- Evan 's precocious and sometimes insufferable classmate . She is constantly looking for academic and extracurricular activities to boost her collegiate chances . She never knew Connor , but is greatly affected by his death and the concept of mortality , and quickly joins Evan in founding the Connor Project in order to keep Connor 's memory alive . </Li> <Li> Jared Kleinman -- Another of Evan 's classmates ; he is the closest person Evan has ever had to a friend . The son of a family friend of the Hansens , he initially says that he only talks to Evan so his parents will pay for his car insurance . Jared is very adept with computers and technology , so Evan enlists his help in crafting fake emails from Connor . However , as Evan becomes preoccupied with his relationship with the Murphys and fails to further Jared 's prominence in the Project , Jared turns his snide nature against Evan once more , only to be confronted by his own self -
<Ul> <Li> Evan Hansen -- A high school senior who struggles with severe social anxiety . He is assigned by his therapist to write letters to himself about why each day will be good , which becomes the catalyst for the plot of the story . He also has never had any friends , and has had a crush on Zoe Murphy for a very long time . After Connor 's death , he begins to tell lies of him being friends with Connor to the Murphy family because they found Evan 's letter to himself folded up in Connor 's pocket ; they thought Connor wrote it to Evan . The first act centers on his outreach propelled by Connor 's death , while the second act has him unleash his yearning towards the Murphys and his anger towards Heidi and Jared , who he believes have used him for validation and ignored him when they did n't need him . </Li> <Li> Heidi Hansen -- Evan 's mother , a nurse 's aide who attends paralegal school at night , often leaving Evan on his own as a result . She tries to connect with Evan , but struggles because she does n't personally understand what he goes through on a daily basis . Having been left by her ex-husband years prior to raise Evan on her own , she exhibits possessive and jealous behavior once she learns of the Murphys ' interest in securing Evan 's future . However , she comes to see her failings and Evan 's concealed sorrow as a wake - up - call not to hide from her son . </Li> <Li> Zoe Murphy -- Connor 's younger sister and Evan 's longtime crush . She was never close to Connor , hated him even , but wishes she had known him better and turns to Evan after he lies and says he was friends with Connor . She is initially mad at Evan when he comes clean about the lies , but eventually forgives him . </Li> <Li> Cynthia Murphy -- Connor and Zoe 's stay - at - home mother . She is constantly trying to keep her fragile family from falling apart , but is often unsuccessful . She clings to the memory of Connor even though she was never close with him , and her relationship with Larry and Zoe suffers because of it . The second act elaborates on her past attempts at coaxing Connor through expensive retreats , and her bitterness towards her husband 's distance . </Li> <Li> Larry Murphy -- Connor and Zoe 's busy father . He works hard to give his family a relatively easy life , but he is emotionally distant from all three of them . He becomes close with Evan , who never had a strong father figure , and begins to see Evan as the son Connor never was . However , as the letter becomes public , he 's faced with his role in Connor 's alienation and the truth behind Evan 's outreach . </Li> <Li> Connor Murphy - A high school senior who is also a social outcast with no friends , like Evan . He is a frequent drug user , and becomes aggressive when he is high . He is very protective of his sister Zoe , even though they are not close . He commits suicide early on , but his image returns in Evan 's imagination to guide him . Evan 's imaginary version of Connor is likable , contributing to Evan 's belief that they could have been friends . His death is the basis of the whole story . </Li> <Li> Alana Beck -- Evan 's precocious and sometimes insufferable classmate . She is constantly looking for academic and extracurricular activities to boost her collegiate chances . She never knew Connor , but is greatly affected by his death and the concept of mortality , and quickly joins Evan in founding the Connor Project in order to keep Connor 's memory alive . </Li> <Li> Jared Kleinman -- Another of Evan 's classmates ; he is the closest person Evan has ever had to a friend . The son of a family friend of the Hansens , he initially says that he only talks to Evan so his parents will pay for his car insurance . Jared is very adept with computers and technology , so Evan enlists his help in crafting fake emails from Connor . However , as Evan becomes preoccupied with his relationship with the Murphys and fails to further Jared 's prominence in the Project , Jared turns his snide nature against Evan once more , only to be confronted by his own self -
what happened to connor murphy dear evan hansen
what happened to connor murphy dear evan hansen
death
death