Who is Randolph from Other Voices, Other Rooms and what is their importance?

Randolph is Amy's cousin and the other major character in the book. Randolph essentially initiates the story by writing the letter inviting Joel to come live at Skully's Landing. Even though the letter is written from Mr. Sansom's perspective, Joel later learns that it had been Randolph, not Mr. Sansom, who had actually written the letter. Joel first sees Randolph who appears as a female figure in one of the windows of the house and leads Joel on an intrigue about who the mysterious person could be. Randolph is a frustrated artist and attempts to paint Joel's portrait, although Randolph is much better at copying things, even reconstructing pictures of birds from actual feathers of dead creatures. Randolph, like Joel, has struggled with his sexual identity and has a brief relationship with a girl named Dolores before secretly falling in love with the prizefighter Pepe Alvarez. Randolph's fate turns when he accidentally shoots Edward after Pepe runs away with Dolores. Randolph spends his life attempting to locate Pepe by writing letters to the postmasters in all the cities and towns in the world. Although Randolph holds no real expectations of finding Pepe, the act of sending the letters gives Randolph hope and a sense of peace and anchors Randolph's affections in the past. Randolph's tenderness toward Joel, especially during Joel's illness at the end of the story, is very moving for Joel, who transfers his affections to Randolph, giving Randolph someone new to love.