Characters, in The Order of Appearance
Gregory Stern – Publisher who also publishes the journals of Fielding Gray.
Fielding Gray – Student and later officer in the army. The protagonist of the novel. Destroys his chances in the academic world by the seduction of Christopher Roland. Ends up in the army.
Somerset Lloyd-James – Student and social climber. A friend of Gray and Morrison. Is a candidate for the post as Head of School and succeeds when Gray has destroyed his own chances.
Christopher Roland – Student to whom Gray is attracted, though he considers him a little stupid. The seduction that follows has grave consequences when the unhappy Roland commits suicide by shooting himself.
Robert Constable – Tutor of Lancaster College. A man of high moral standing who tries to help Gray but prohibits him from entering Lancaster after he has found out about his lying to his mother and even hitting her.
Usher – Senior of the school. Gives Gray some sound advice.
Captain Detterling – Army man and former student of the school. Later MP.
Ivan Blessington – Student.
Paget – Student.
“Glinter” Parkes – Student.
Mr and Mrs Jack Gray – Jack Gray, the father of Fielding, is a bully who has inherited his money. He and his companion, Mr Tuck, are trying to shuffle away Fielding to a tea plantation of India. The father ends up in bed with young Angela Tuck but dies of heart failure when the spying Fielding slams the door. Mrs Gray seems like a rather weak woman initially but later shows a rather strong will. Just like her husband she tries to prevent the academic career of her son and have him go to India.
Mr Tuck – A huckster who drinks too much. Wants Fielding to join him in India. Married to the much younger Angela.
Angela Tuck – The young and resourceful wife of Mr Tuck. Married him for money when her father lost his. Very promiscuous.
Read more about this topic: Fielding Gray
Famous quotes containing the words order and/or appearance:
“You cannot have one well-bred man without a whole society of such. They keep each other up to any high point. Especially women;Mit requires a great many cultivated women,—saloons of bright, elegant, reading women, accustomed to ease and refinement, to spectacles, pictures, sculpture, poetry, and to elegant society, in order that you have one Madame de Staël.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Though an unpleasant sort of person, and even a queer threatener withal, yet, if one meets him, one must get along with him as one can; for his ignorance is extreme. And what under heaven indeed should such a phantasm as Death know, for all that the Appearance tacitly claims to be somebody that knows much?”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)