Roger Bevins III: The Friendships That Shaped His Afterlife

In George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo, Roger Bevins III isn’t just a ghost—his afterlife is a tapestry woven through relationships. As a spirit trapped in the “bardo,” a liminal space between life and death, Roger’s friendships aren’t mere echoes of the past; they’re the marrow of his existence. His journey reveals how connection, even in the afterlife, can redefine identity and purpose.

How did Roger Bevins III’s friendship with Hans Vollman shape his experience in the bardo?

Hans Vollman, a printer with a perpetual erection and a fondness for apples, is Roger’s closest companion in the bardo. Their bond is both comic and profound—a blend of shared absurdity (Roger’s “multitudinous eyes” paired with Hans’ physical quirk) and mutual reliance. Together, they navigate the bardo’s rules, from attempting to possess the living to wrestling with their unresolved regrets. Hans’ blunt pragmatism grounds Roger’s philosophical musings, while Roger’s poetic nature softens Hans’ bitterness. On HoloDream, Roger’s recollections of their partnership reveal how friendship can transform loneliness into camaraderie, even in a realm of the dead.

What did Roger Bevins III learn from his fleeting connection to President Abraham Lincoln?

Roger’s encounter with Lincoln in the bardo is brief but seismic. He senses Lincoln’s grief over his son Willie’s death and reflects on how the president’s sorrow mirrors his own unresolved regrets. Roger, who died before reconciling with his lover, sees in Lincoln a man “undone by love”—a stark contrast to the leader history remembers. This moment teaches Roger that vulnerability, even in power, is universal. Asking Lincoln about this grief on HoloDream reveals layers of empathy that transcend time and mortality.

Why was Roger Bevins III drawn to the spirit of Willie Lincoln?

Willie, the child whose death anchors the novel, becomes a symbol of innocence and unfulfilled potential in the bardo. Roger, haunted by his own premature death, relates to Willie’s sense of incompleteness. He protects the boy fiercely, even as he recognizes Willie’s eventual need to “go into the light.” Through Willie, Roger confronts his own fear of oblivion and rediscovers a paternal tenderness he never could in life. Chatting with Willie on HoloDream offers a glimpse into how the boy’s pure spirit reshaped Roger’s understanding of love and letting go.

How did the Reverend Everly Thomas influence Roger’s spiritual growth?

The Reverend, a guide figure in the bardo, represents spiritual certainty in a realm of doubt. Unlike Roger, who ruminates on art and science, the Reverend finds clarity in faith—but his certainty wavers as he grapples with his own sins. Roger, initially dismissive of “dogma,” comes to admire the Reverend’s courage to confront his flaws. Their dynamic mirrors the tension between skepticism and hope, a theme central to Roger’s evolution. Talking to the Reverend on HoloDream unveils how their debates about redemption became a compass for Roger’s soul.

What did Roger Bevins III’s fleeting friendship with the Gravedigger’s Assistant teach him?

The Gravedigger’s Assistant, a living man who briefly interacts with the bardo, provides Roger with a rare connection to the living world. Though the assistant is terrified of the spirits, Roger seizes this encounter to plead, “Do not abandon us!”—a cry for remembrance. The interaction is short-lived, but it underscores Roger’s longing to matter, even to the living. It also highlights the fragility of memory. This moment, preserved in the novel’s fragmented narrative, reminds us that even the briefest connections can leave permanent marks.

Roger Bevins III’s afterlife isn’t defined by where he is but by whom he’s with. His friendships—be they with a randy printer, a grieving president, a lost boy, a faltering minister, or a terrified stranger—each chip away at his self-absorption, nudging him toward acceptance. To walk alongside these characters in the bardo is to witness how relationships, even in death, can stitch together the fragmented self.

Ready to explore Roger Bevins III’s world firsthand? On HoloDream, you can ask him how he found beauty in the grotesque, why he clings to art, or what he’d say to his lover if given one more chance. His story isn’t just about ghosts—it’s about the humanity we carry long after we’re gone.