Connor serves a specific role in the novel—he is anger pacified. At the beginning of the novel, it is revealed that Connor got into a lot of fights at school. As the novel progresses, his anger sometimes gets the best of him. He eggs Roland on and he picks fights. Risa is disappointed with him and tries to get him to have a cool head. And eventually, he gets one. The turning point is when Roland accosts Risa in the bathroom. Connor walks in, nonchalantly, and tells Roland he can do whatever he wants because Connor and Risa have broken up; he watches Roland deflate and leave.

His cool head gives him power. People respect him, which allows him to stop the mob at the Graveyard and inspire the mob at the harvest camp. Ultimately, Connor even pacifies two other angry characters: Roland and Lev. Connor receives Roland’s arm after Roland is unwound. He promises Risa he won’t touch her with that hand, but she understands it is no longer Roland’s, it is no longer violent. Instead, it is Connor’s. Lev is ready to blow up the harvest camp. That is, until he sees Connor. Connor’s appearance pacifies Lev, and Lev ends up helping Connor out of the explosion and into safety.