Who is Allen Hawley from The Winter of Our Discontent and what is their importance?

Ellen is Ethan's daughter. She is seen through Ethan's eyes as a young woman who will someday be prettier than her mother. Ethan believes that Ellen is a bit selfish, tending to be jealous, and he is very surprised when Ellen is Allen's biggest supporter when he wins honorable mention in the contest. Ellen slips in and out of the plot, but her role is critical to the events that bring Ethan into his discontent, and it is Ellen who comes to Ethan's mind during his suicide attempt.