Character Analysis
Linda is the redhead whom Dan takes a liking to the first time he sees her at the gym (5.164). They date and start getting pretty serious and all, despite Dan's busyness what with his Socrates training and his gymnastics championship coming up.
So she totally surpasses Susie, in Dan's eyes. Soon they talk on the phone daily (6.115), but he doesn't tell her about Socrates. She's still not of Dan's true path as a peaceful warrior. That's why, despite their getting married and having a child, they grow apart and eventually divorce. For all her red hair and ease with Dan, in the end, she's just another sign that the conventional world can't bring Dan the unreasonable happiness he seeks.