Homer Clegg

Homer Clegg is Claire Daniels’s estranged husband, whose sudden appearance in Reno turns her anticipated obstacle to divorce into an unexpected opening. Though Claire had feared he would never release her from their marriage, Homer has come seeking a divorce of his own because he wants to marry another woman.

Marriage to Claire Daniels

Homer’s marriage to Claire remains legally unresolved while she pursues a divorce in Reno. Claire believes his religious puritanism will keep him from agreeing to end the marriage, making her plans to marry Max von Strohheim seem liable to collapse. The evidence presents Homer chiefly through this impasse and Claire’s apprehension; it does not detail their earlier life together.

Arrival in Reno

A telegram informs Claire that Homer has appeared in person in Reno, prompting her to leave immediately. She fears that his presence means he has discovered her plan and will refuse to divorce her. Instead, Homer does not even know she is there: he has arrived independently, hoping to obtain a quick divorce because he has found someone he wants to marry.

Reversal and Outcome

Homer’s own desire to remarry changes the terms of the conflict. Claire had regarded him as a determined barrier; his new purpose makes their interests coincide, and she tells her daughter that the divorce should be completed within a few days. That completion is anticipated rather than shown. Homer’s brief, offstage role thus hinges on a reversal: the husband Claire expects to obstruct her freedom arrives in Reno seeking the same legal exit.