Everett Greenwood is the central protagonist of Greenwood. Though the novel follows several characters throughout its nine parts, Everett’s journey not only features the most significant character development but also has the largest impact on the other protagonists’ lives.

Everett first enters the novel during Willow’s narrative section. He is introduced as a partially literate man who was incarcerated after committing an unspeakable crime, later revealed to be the kidnapping and murder of a child. However, his pleasant nature clashes with this accusation. Everett is thoughtful and protective when it comes to family, as evidenced by his decision to take Harris’s place in the First World War after Harris loses his eyesight.

The novel eventually reveals that Everett’s conviction is based on a lie he told. When asked by Willow why he was imprisoned, he claimed that the real reason was that he took “sumthing that couldnt be mine” (102). In Parts Four and Six of the novel, a young Everett is revealed to have found Willow as a baby in the woods outside his home. This incident initiates Everett’s character journey, which revolves around deciding what he will do with the baby.