Lucas Cross
Encyclopedia
Lucas Cross is a fictional character in the novel Peyton Place
, and its film adaptation. In the movie, he was played by Arthur Kennedy
.
community of Peyton Place, along with his second wife, Nellie, and their children, Paul, Selena
and Joey. He was considered to be a woodsman; although he was also skilled as a cabinetmaker. He believed that since he paid his bills and minded his own business, that allowed him to behave as he pleased, especially in his abuse of his family.
Throughout the novel, he beats
his wife and molests the 14-year-old Selena. He also threatened to kill his youngest son, Joey, should he ever have gone to the Sheriff about his criminal actions. When she gets pregnant, Dr. Matthew Swain examines her and finds that Cross is the father. Cross, for his perfidy, is eventually driven out of town.
He later joins the Navy (how or why he did was never revealed). Upon his release, he returns to Peyton Place and tries to rape
Selena again. Panicked, she grabs the nearest blunt object and clubs him over the head, killing him. She and Joey bury him in the sheep pen.
Selena is placed on trial for his murder, but with the help of Dr. Swain, she is acquitted
. The only ally he really had, after his death, was selfish Marion Partridge
who thought Selena should have been convicted, but not for justice; but because she only thought of what she got from him (he made their kitchen cabinets).
Peyton Place (novel)
Peyton Place is a 1956 novel by Grace Metalious. It sold 60,000 copies within the first ten days of its release and remained on the New York Times best seller list for 59 weeks. It was adapted as both a 1957 film and a 1964–69 television series....
, and its film adaptation. In the movie, he was played by Arthur Kennedy
Arthur Kennedy (actor)
Arthur Kennedy was an American stage and film actor known for his versatility in supporting film roles and his ability to create "an exceptional honesty and naturalness on stage" especially in the original casts of Arthur Miller plays on Broadway.- Early life and education :Kennedy was born John...
.
In the novel
Lucas Cross lived in a tar paper shack in the New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
community of Peyton Place, along with his second wife, Nellie, and their children, Paul, Selena
Selena Cross
Selena Cross is a fictional character in the novel Peyton Place, as well as its sequel, Return to Peyton Place and the films based on the novels.-In the novel:...
and Joey. He was considered to be a woodsman; although he was also skilled as a cabinetmaker. He believed that since he paid his bills and minded his own business, that allowed him to behave as he pleased, especially in his abuse of his family.
Throughout the novel, he beats
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
his wife and molests the 14-year-old Selena. He also threatened to kill his youngest son, Joey, should he ever have gone to the Sheriff about his criminal actions. When she gets pregnant, Dr. Matthew Swain examines her and finds that Cross is the father. Cross, for his perfidy, is eventually driven out of town.
He later joins the Navy (how or why he did was never revealed). Upon his release, he returns to Peyton Place and tries to rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
Selena again. Panicked, she grabs the nearest blunt object and clubs him over the head, killing him. She and Joey bury him in the sheep pen.
Selena is placed on trial for his murder, but with the help of Dr. Swain, she is acquitted
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
. The only ally he really had, after his death, was selfish Marion Partridge
Marion Partridge
Marion Partridge was a character in the novel Peyton Place and in the subsequent film. In the film, Marion was played by actress Peg Hillias....
who thought Selena should have been convicted, but not for justice; but because she only thought of what she got from him (he made their kitchen cabinets).