# Asa Griffiths — An American Tragedy character guide

> Asa Griffiths in An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Asa, Mrs. Griffiths, Mrs. Asa Griffiths

**First appearance:** 0000-book-i

## Snapshot

Clyde's father, a devout mission preacher whose threadbare faith and shuffling indecision stand in quiet contrast to his wife's harder, more embittered piety.

## Who they are

Asa Griffiths runs a Kansas City mission with his wife, raising Clyde and three other children in a world of hymns, handouts, and chronic want. When his daughter Esta's scandal breaks, he paces and mutters 'Tst! Tst!' while his wife seizes the letter and retreats to a back room, leaving him visibly the weaker, more stricken of the two. His inability to convert faith into practical rescue of his own family is the first hard lesson Clyde absorbs about the uselessness of virtue without money.

## In the story

### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/book-i)

Clyde's father, a poor and devout street preacher who struggles to support his family.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/i)

The father, a short, stout, unimportant-looking man who carries the organ and preaches with weak conviction.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/ii)

Asa is Clyde's father, a poorly integrated and impractical religious enthusiast who runs street missions and is unable to provide for his family.

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

Futilely searches for Esta and interjects religious platitudes, appearing inadequate and weak.

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

Clyde's father, a street preacher, opposes worldly amusements like theater and movies, which Clyde secretly attends.

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

Naively assumes the hotel work is simple and low-paying, unaware of the moral and social changes Clyde is undergoing.

### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xxvii)

Asa is present but says little, unable to grasp the full meaning of the situation.

### [Chapter: XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xxx)

Asa is ill in Denver, requiring financial support from his wife, which diverts funds from Clyde's appeal.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xxxi)

Ill in Denver; Mrs. Griffiths nurses him while seeking aid for Clyde.

### [Souvenir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/souvenir)

The elderly, feeble street preacher who carries the organ and leads the sermon.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters/asa_griffiths
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters