Matthew Swain
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Matthew Swain, M.D. is a fictional character in the novel '' Peyton Place'', as well as
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and
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of the same name. In the movie, he was played by actor
Lloyd Nolan Lloyd Benedict Nolan (August 11, 1902 – September 27, 1985) was an American film and television actor. Among his many roles, Nolan is remembered for originating the role of private investigator Michael Shayne in a series of 1940s B movies. Bi ...
and in the television series, he was played by actor
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.


History

Matthew Swain was the long time physician in the
New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
community of Peyton Place. He had grown up in the community, having done his internship at Mary Hitchcock Hospital in
Hanover, New Hampshire Hanover is a town located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,870. The town is home to the Ivy League university Dartmouth College, the U.S. Army Corps of Eng ...
. Dr. Swain was a widower, his wife Emily having died some years before the book began, and had been Peyton Place's doctor for some 30 years. The word "Specialist" was anathema to him, having once wrathfully told a specialist in ears eyes nose and throats, that "he specialized in sick people!" He also loved to send birthday cards to every child he delivered. In the novel, he was a friend and ally to the community's school teacher, Miss Elsie Thornton. After his internship at Hanover, he was to go into partnership with one Dr. Jerrald Quimby, who had been the community's leading physician; until Harmon Carter, in concert with his girlfriend, and Dr. Quimby's then wife, Roberta, turned him away from his house. Furious, he hung his shingle at his parents' house on Chestnut Street and had not regretted doing so. The town had laughed at Dr. Quimby, who had married the much younger Roberta Welch, and sick people started seeing Dr. Swain, after the town found him senile and considered him a "Damned Old Fool". Later on, Dr. Quimby killed himself. Dr. Swain was close friends with his neighbors on Chestnut Street; however his best friend was Seth Buswell, the editor of the town's newspaper, the ''Peyton Place Times''. He was best known for helping
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 Selena was born on the wrong side of the tracks; the more respectable people i ...
during her unwanted pregnancy, the product of a
rape Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ag ...
committed by her sexually abusive stepfather,
Lucas Cross ''Peyton Place'' is a 1956 novel by the American author Grace Metalious. Set in New England in the time periods before and after World War II, the novel tells the story of three women who are forced to come to terms with their identity, both as w ...
. He performed an
abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
(which at that time was illegal) and confronted Lucas about what he did. He eventually drove Lucas out of Peyton Place. Later on, after Selena killed Lucas in self-defense, Dr. Swain testified about what Lucas had done and why Selena had killed him, imperiling his medical license. With his help, she was acquitted. His only real enemies in town were
Marion Partridge Marion Partridge (née Saltmarsh) is a fictional character in the novel '' Peyton Place'' and in the subsequent film adaptation. In the film, Marion was played by actress Peg Hillias. Marion Saltmarsh was born an unknown seaside community in Ne ...
, who didn't like his bluntness, and Evelyn Page, the mother of Norman Page, after he told her that "there was nothing wrong with her but selfishness and bad temper." These two women proceeded to go to the nearby town of White River and consulted that community's doctor, Dr. John Bixby, who was more than willing to tell them what they wanted to hear. In the movie, he also helped Selena by testifying about what had happened (Lucas's molestation, and why Selena had a miscarriage). Dr. Swain also delivered a solemn rebuke to the townspeople about being prisoners of each other's gossip, mildly rebuking the community of not being there for Selena when she needed someone. The only person she could turn to was him and that was because she needed medical treatment. He reminded Peyton Place about how everyone went to church, but didn't practice what the churches preached; their school, which most take for granted; a wonderful newspaper which most use to wrap garbage; and how young people, like Allison and Norman, would leave and donate their minds to another community because they felt stifled in their hometown. In the television series, Matthew Swain was the editor of the town's newspaper (this time, called the ''Peyton Place Clarion'') after the doctor became Michael Rossi, the former high school principal. He was also the uncle of
Allison MacKenzie ''Peyton Place'' is a 1956 novel by the American author Grace Metalious. Set in New England in the time periods before and after World War II, the novel tells the story of three women who are forced to come to terms with their identity, both as ...
. In the television series, the character of Matthew Swain left Peyton Place midway through the first season. {{DEFAULTSORT:Swain, Matthew Characters in American novels of the 20th century Peyton Place characters Drama film characters Fictional physicians Literary characters introduced in 1956