# Coleman — Antic Hay character guide

> Coleman in Antic Hay by Aldous Huxley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Coleman

**First appearance:** 0002-i

## Who they are

A bearded, Bible-quoting Cossack of a man who bleeds freely and philosophizes about love, Coleman lives on Christian principles and other people's discomfort.

## Relationships

### [Rosie Shearwater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/rosie_shearwater)

_psychological_

Coleman exerts a dark, nihilistic influence over Rosie, leading her into debauchery and emotional turmoil.

### [Theodore Gumbril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/theodore_gumbril)

_friendship_

Coleman is Gumbril's hedonistic and amoral friend, sharing a bond of cynical amusement.

### [Myra Viveash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/myra_viveash)

_friendship_

Coleman and Myra share a cynical, hedonistic friendship, united in their emotional detachment.

### [Mercaptan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/mercaptan)

_rivalry_

Coleman delights in mocking and provoking Mercaptan, viewing him as a pretentious fool.

### [Rosie Shearwater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/rosie_shearwater)

_psychological_

Coleman exerts a dark, nihilistic influence over Rosie, leading her into debauchery and emotional turmoil.

### [Myra Viveash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/myra_viveash)

_friendship_

Coleman and Myra share a cynical, hedonistic friendship, united in their emotional detachment.

### [Rosie Shearwater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/rosie_shearwater)

_psychological_

Coleman exerts a dark, nihilistic influence over Rosie, leading her into debauchery and emotional turmoil.

### [Mercaptan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/mercaptan)

_rivalry_

Coleman delights in mocking and provoking Mercaptan, viewing him as a pretentious fool.

### [Theodore Gumbril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/theodore_gumbril)

_friendship_

Coleman is Gumbril's hedonistic and amoral friend, sharing a bond of cynical amusement.

### [Myra Viveash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/myra_viveash)

_friendship_

Coleman and Myra share a cynical, hedonistic friendship, united in their emotional detachment.

### [Theodore Gumbril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/theodore_gumbril)

_friendship_

Coleman is Gumbril's hedonistic and amoral friend, sharing a bond of cynical amusement.

## In the story

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

Arrives with a false beard, mocking Lypiatt and engaging in playful, blasphemous conversation.

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

Makes crude jokes about parasites and pregnancy, and delights in the tragic story of the poor couple.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/chapters/viii)

Mentioned as having suggested that a beard could lead to dangerous relations; Gumbril feels he is now provisionally a member of Coleman's herd.

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

Mentioned as the one who pointed out the way to Thelema, for which Gumbril feels grateful. Gumbril plans to share a joke about his beard with Coleman.

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

Philosophizes about debauchery's pointlessness and tediousness; leads the group in drunken revelry; comments on the young man's behavior.

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

Bleeding from a cut, he quotes Church Fathers on the body's sordidness, taunts Rosie, and chases her when she tries to leave.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/coleman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters