# Percy Wilbraham Marsh — A Damsel in Distress character guide

> Percy Wilbraham Marsh in A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Percy, Poor Percy

**First appearance:** 0002-i

## Snapshot

The pompous heir to Belpher Castle, on the brink of twenty-one, who takes it upon himself to police his sister's romantic life.

## Who they are

Percy Wilbraham Marsh, Lord Belpher, is a young man of immense self-importance and limited humor, deeply conscious of his approaching majority and the dignity of his name. He regards Maud's independence as a scandal and George Bevan as an intruder, throwing himself into the role of family enforcer with blustering enthusiasm. His interference sharpens the central conflict, making him the most persistent obstacle between Maud and the life she wants.

## Relationships

### [Lord Marshmoreton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/lord_marshmoreton)

_family_

Lord Marshmoreton is Percy's father, and their relationship involves paternal disappointment and generational conflict.

### [Lord Marshmoreton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/lord_marshmoreton)

_family_

Lord Marshmoreton is Percy's father, and their relationship involves paternal disappointment and generational conflict.

### [Lord Marshmoreton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/lord_marshmoreton)

_family_

Lord Marshmoreton is Percy's father, and their relationship involves paternal disappointment and generational conflict.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/iii)

The stout young man pursuing the cab, likely Percy, though not named in the excerpt.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/iv)

The stout, scarlet-faced young man who pursues George and the girl, claiming she is his sister. He is arrested for punching a policeman.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned in Maud's letter as driving up in a cab, causing her to flee; also listed in Burke's Peerage as the son of the Earl of Marshmoreton.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/vi)

Lord Belpher, the heir, who assaulted a policeman after seeing Maud with a man in a cab.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/ix)

Lord Belpher; insists Maud must not be left out of sight after the note incident.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/chapters/xv)

Lord Belpher follows Maud through a muddy ditch, suffers blisters, and is mistaken for a tramp by the curate.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters/percy_wilbraham_marsh
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_damsel_in_distress_se/characters