Corrigan rebels against convention by smoking and drinking and spending his time with alcoholics on the street. He seems to find both excitement and meaning in relating to the down-and-outs of Dublin.

Corrigan is an Irish Catholic whose religious beliefs influence and control his life and actions. He is a Christian in the most direct way, as a follower and imitator of Jesus Christ. One way this manifests is his service to the poor both in Ireland and in New York.

When Corrigan joins the order of monks in Belgium, he takes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The poverty is something he accepts naturally. The obedience is only a little challenging: he does not want to go to New York, but he does go. The chastity he sees as part of his commitment to loving God and his neighbor. When he fully gives himself to God and neighbor, there is no room for romantic love in his life.

He considers his attraction to Adelita to be a test and struggles with his decision to fall in love or reject her. Eventually, he does express his love and sleeps with his beloved.

Shortly thereafter, he dies, and Adelita is never sure if he would have continued their relationship.

Corrigan is the most fully developed character in the novel.