# Hortense Briggs — An American Tragedy character guide

> Hortense Briggs in An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** supporting

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

**First appearance:** 0001-i

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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 other without apology. Her teasing refusal is Clyde's first hard lesson in desire, expense, and the sting of being used, and it colors how he reads every woman after her.

## Relationships

### [Clyde Griffiths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters/clyde_griffiths)

_romantic_

Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for gifts and attention without genuine affection.

### [Roberta Alden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters/roberta_alden)

_social_

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters/clyde_griffiths)

_romantic_

Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for gifts and attention without genuine affection.

### [Clyde Griffiths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters/clyde_griffiths)

_romantic_

Clyde's infatuation with the flirtatious and manipulative Hortense, who uses him for gifts and attention without genuine affection.

### [Roberta Alden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/characters/roberta_alden)

_social_

Hortense and Roberta are both women in Clyde's life but from different social strata, with Hortense representing Clyde's earlier, more superficial relationships.

## In the story

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

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

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

Clyde's object of infatuation; she is vain, manipulative, and calculating, considering how to use Clyde to obtain a fur coat.

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

Manipulates Clyde into financing her coat, promising future intimacy.

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

Hortense is flirtatious and enjoys the attention from both Clyde and Sparser. She teases Clyde and shows off her dancing.

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

Manipulative and calculating, Hortense uses promises and lies to keep Clyde invested while pursuing Sparser.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xix)

Hortense is hysterical about her facial injuries, completely oblivious to the others' suffering and the danger of police discovery.

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

Mentioned as having left Kansas City with another man, causing Clyde pain.

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

Clyde thinks back on her with bitterness, recalling how she used him for money and left with another man.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xvii)

Mentioned in Clyde's thoughts as a calculating girl from his past in Kansas City.

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

Mentioned by Clyde as a comparison to Roberta's evasiveness, reflecting his past frustrations.

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

Referenced as a past figure who contributed to Clyde's earlier sense of failure with women.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xxxii)

Clyde thinks back on his pursuit of Hortense in Kansas City as part of the sinful past he now regrets.

## Links

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