Antic Hay · Character

Mercaptan

A fluted, self-delighted literary critic who turns every gallery wall and manifesto into a punchline, and every punchline into a performance of his own taste.

supporting

Also known as Mr. Mercaptan, precious Mr. Mercaptan, fluted Mr. Mercaptan

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Antic Hay, Mercaptan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Represents the civilized, rococo aesthetic, dismissing Lypiatt's ideals and advocating for a refined, middle-way existence.

In the storyIVOpen this moment free

See Mercaptan in IV Book page

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Mercaptan moves through Mrs. Viveash's exhibition as a one-man tribunal, ridiculing Lypiatt's catalogue mottoes and reducing a nude to 'Carracis with cubical muscles' before the paint is dry. His wit is genuine but parasitic: he needs other people's art, and other people's laughter, to feel himself exist. As the novel's sharpest satirical instrument, he sets the tone for its running quarrel between aesthetic pretension and actual feeling.

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The fuller portrait of Mercaptan sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mercaptan in i

Character Web

15 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Social

Character groups

Bohemian social circle
Protagonist

+10 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

Lypiatt reaches his emotional and psychological peak here as he fixates on death as an escape, repeating the w…

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Relationships

Casimir Lypiatt
rivalry · negative
Lypiatt and Mercaptan are intellectual and artistic rivals, constantly bickering over… How this plays out →
Rosie Shearwater
social · ambivalent
Myra Viveash
social · ambivalent
Theodore Gumbril
social · ambivalent
Coleman
rivalry · negative
Myra Viveash
social · ambivalent
Coleman
rivalry · negative
Casimir Lypiatt
rivalry · negative
Lypiatt and Mercaptan are intellectual and artistic rivals, constantly bickering over… How this plays out →
Casimir Lypiatt
rivalry · negative
Lypiatt and Mercaptan are intellectual and artistic rivals, constantly bickering over… How this plays out →
Rosie Shearwater
social · ambivalent
Theodore Gumbril
social · ambivalent
Rosie Shearwater
social · ambivalent

Casimir Lypiatt
Lypiatt and Mercaptan are intellectual and artistic rivals, constantly bickering over aesthetics and philosophy.
Rosie Shearwater
Mercaptan is a pretentious aesthete who flirts with Rosie and participates in the same social circle.
Myra Viveash
Mercaptan is a frequent companion of Myra's, engaging in witty but shallow social banter.
Theodore Gumbril
Mercaptan and Gumbril are acquaintances who engage in intellectual and social sparring.
Coleman
Coleman delights in mocking and provoking Mercaptan, viewing him as a pretentious fool.
Myra Viveash
Mercaptan is a frequent companion of Myra's, engaging in witty but shallow social banter.
Coleman
Coleman delights in mocking and provoking Mercaptan, viewing him as a pretentious fool.
Casimir Lypiatt
Lypiatt and Mercaptan are intellectual and artistic rivals, constantly bickering over aesthetics and philosophy.
Casimir Lypiatt
Lypiatt and Mercaptan are intellectual and artistic rivals, constantly bickering over aesthetics and philosophy.
Rosie Shearwater
Mercaptan is a pretentious aesthete who flirts with Rosie and participates in the same social circle.
Theodore Gumbril
Mercaptan and Gumbril are acquaintances who engage in intellectual and social sparring.
Rosie Shearwater
Mercaptan is a pretentious aesthete who flirts with Rosie and participates in the same social circle.

Relationship notes

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

See Mercaptan in i

In the story

Mercaptan appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

IV
Represents the civilized, rococo aesthetic, dismissing Lypiatt's ideals and advocating for a refined, middle-way existence.
V
Quotes Latin poetry and comments on Bruin's frank expression of class prejudice.
VII
He accompanies Mrs. Viveash, making witty and dismissive comments about Lypiatt's art and catalogue.
VIII
Mentioned as part of the herds Gumbril belongs to.
IX
Referenced indirectly as the 'great exponent of civilization' whose sense of the term 'highly civilized' is used to describe the mysterious woman's apparent sophistication.
XVIII
Mercaptan is attacked by Lypiatt in his boudoir after publishing a review accusing Lypiatt of insincerity; he reveals that the vermouth advertisement remark came from Myra Viveash.
XX
Mentioned as having dropped a hint about Coleman's lack of civilization; Rosie had planned to complain to him about Coleman.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mercaptan unlock in the free preview.

See Mercaptan in i

See Mercaptan in IV