An American Tragedy · Character

Hortense Briggs

A Kansas City flirt with a sharp eye for a good time, who lets Clyde spend money on her while keeping him at arm's length and teaching him what wanting costs.

supporting

Also known as Hortense, this Hortense Briggs, the beautiful Hortense, Briggs

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in An American Tragedy, Hortense Briggs is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A flirtatious and manipulative young woman who captivates Clyde and leads him into spending beyond his means.

In the storyBook IOpen this moment free

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Hortense is the pretty, calculating girl in Clyde's bellhop circle, happy to be courted and driven about but never quite his. She wants nice things, admiration, and a better catch, and she plays the boys against each…

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See Hortense Briggs in i

Character Web

56 connections

A slice of how Hortense Briggs sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Trial and Defense Team
Extended Cast of Lycurgus and Trial

+51 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs as Clyde, isolated in the death house, is forced…

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Relationships

Clyde Griffiths
romantic · negative
Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for… How this plays out →
Roberta Alden
social · negative
Clyde Griffiths
romantic · negative
Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for… How this plays out →
Clyde Griffiths
romantic · negative
Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for… How this plays out →
Roberta Alden
social · negative

Clyde Griffiths
Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for gifts and attention without genuine affection.
Roberta Alden
Hortense and Roberta are both women in Clyde's life but from different social strata, with Hortense representing Clyde's earlier, more superficial relationships.
Clyde Griffiths
Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for gifts and attention without genuine affection.
Clyde Griffiths
Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for gifts and attention without genuine affection.
Roberta Alden
Hortense and Roberta are both women in Clyde's life but from different social strata, with Hortense representing Clyde's earlier, more superficial relationships.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Hortense Briggs in i

In the story

Hortense Briggs appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Book I
A flirtatious and manipulative young woman who captivates Clyde and leads him into spending beyond his means.
Chapter XI
A flirtatious and self-regarding shop girl who captivates Clyde at the Ratterer party. She teases him and flaunts her appeal to other men.
Chapter XII
Manipulative and self-absorbed, she keeps Clyde waiting, mentions other suitors to make him jealous, and accepts his gifts while planning to use him for his money.
Chapter XIV
Clyde's object of infatuation; she is vain, manipulative, and calculating, considering how to use Clyde to obtain a fur coat.
XV
Manipulates Clyde into financing her coat, promising future intimacy.
Chapter XVI
The object of Clyde's desire; he is saving money to buy her a coat, which prevents him from helping his family.
Chapter XVII
Hortense is flirtatious and enjoys the attention from both Clyde and Sparser. She teases Clyde and shows off her dancing.
Chapter XVIII
Manipulative and calculating, Hortense uses promises and lies to keep Clyde invested while pursuing Sparser.
XIX
Hortense is hysterical about her facial injuries, completely oblivious to the others' suffering and the danger of police discovery.
Chapter III
Mentioned as having left Kansas City with another man, causing Clyde pain.
Chapter VI
Clyde thinks back on her with bitterness, recalling how she used him for money and left with another man.
XVII
Mentioned in Clyde's thoughts as a calculating girl from his past in Kansas City.
Chapter XX
Mentioned by Clyde as a comparison to Roberta's evasiveness, reflecting his past frustrations.
Chapter XXII
Referenced as a past figure who contributed to Clyde's earlier sense of failure with women.
XXXII
Clyde thinks back on his pursuit of Hortense in Kansas City as part of the sinful past he now regrets.

Chapter companion notes

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See Hortense Briggs in i

See Hortense Briggs in Book I