What kind of person is Justin McLeod? Has he deliberately shut himself off from others? Why do you think he is like this?

Justin McLeod is a reclusive, unfriendly, abrupt, and mysterious figure. He lives in the resort town where Charles Norstadt and his family have a summer home. McLeod is known as "The Man Without A Face" because half of his face is disfigured. He chooses to lives alone, and it is his decision to refrain from associating with anyone.

Over the course of the novel, we learn that McLeod's face was disfigured in an accident caused by his drunkeness. A teenager was killed in the accident, and as a result, McLeod both lost his teaching position and spent two years in jail. Mcleod becomes Charles' mentor and friend, as well as his teacher.