# Carolyn Thorpe — Bertram Cope’s Year character guide > Carolyn Thorpe in Bertram Cope’s Year by Henry Blake Fuller. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Carolyn, poor Carolyn **First appearance:** 0000-i-cope-at-a-college-tea ## Snapshot A quiet, sensible young woman whose small, unassuming presence and shy smile let Cope relax—though her private glow over a two-page letter reveals a deeper ache. ## Who they are Carolyn is the unaggressive girl one can trust oneself with, sensible of shoe and plain of hair, easily overlooked beside fluffier or more emphatic rivals. When Cope writes to her of his own accord, she treats a handful of husks as a banquet and lives on it for days, her whole world illuminated by a single taper. Her patient, self-effacing devotion gives the early arc its tender counterweight to the more theatrical attachments around Cope. ## Relationships ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _romantic_ Carolyn Thorpe pursues Bertram Cope romantically, though he shows little genuine interest in her. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Carolyn Thorpe is a guest and social acquaintance of Medora Phillips, often participating in her gatherings. ### [Hortense Dunton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/hortense_dunton) _rivalry_ Carolyn Thorpe and Hortense Dunton are romantic rivals, both vying for Bertram Cope's attention. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Carolyn Thorpe is a guest and social acquaintance of Medora Phillips, often participating in her gatherings. ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _romantic_ Carolyn Thorpe pursues Bertram Cope romantically, though he shows little genuine interest in her. ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _romantic_ Carolyn Thorpe pursues Bertram Cope romantically, though he shows little genuine interest in her. ## In the story ### [II: Cope Makes a Sunday Afternoon Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/ii-cope-makes-a-sunday-afternoon-call) Mentioned as one of the girls; is a poet. ### [III: Cope Is "Entertained"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/iii-cope-is-entertained) Wrote and read a poem dedicated to Mrs. Phillips. ### [IV: Cope Is Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/iv-cope-is-considered) Briefly mentioned as having given Joe the headlines earlier in the day. ### [Cope Undertakes an Excursion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/viii-cope-undertakes-an-excursion) Mentioned as having informed Mrs. Phillips about the shortage of invitations. ### [XI: Cope Enlivens the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xi-cope-enlivens-the-country) Helps with atmosphere for Hortense's sketching; her poem is displayed. ### [XIII: Cope Dines Again—and Stays After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xiii-cope-dines-again-and-stays-after) Inquires civilly after Cope's condition at breakfast. ### [XVII: Cope Among Crosscurrents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xvii-cope-among-crosscurrents) Amy speaks a few words to her after breakfast about the rescue. ### [XX: Cope Has a Distressful Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xx-cope-has-a-distressful-christmas) Carolyn is present at Mrs. Phillips' house when Cope meets Amy; Cope uses her as a buffer to avoid being alone with Amy. ### [XXV: Cope in Double Danger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxv-cope-in-double-danger) Publishes two sonnets in a local magazine, which Mrs. Phillips interprets as a tribute to Cope. ### [XXVII: Cope Escapes a Snare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxvii-cope-escapes-a-snare) Mentioned as the bride's-maid; she is writing an epithalamium for the wedding, which Hortense ridicules. ### [Cope Again in the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxix-cope-again-in-the-country) Accompanies the group; described as unaggressive and sensible; Medora views her as a potential rival to be 'extirpated'. ### [Cope as a Hero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxx-cope-as-a-hero) Also clings to Cope during the excitement; later criticized by Medora for her behavior. ### [XXXI: Cope Gets New Light on His Chum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxxi-cope-gets-new-light-on-his-chum) Watches Cope play tennis and thinks of writing a poem; at the performance, she enjoys the chorus girls but is not drawn to Lemoyne's character. ### [XXXII: Cope Takes His Degree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxxii-cope-takes-his-degree) Returns from spring vacation and congratulates Cope at convocation, prompting Medora's mild irritation. ### [Cope in a Final View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxxiii-cope-in-a-final-view) Receives a letter from Cope and is elated; Medora believes she will marry him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/carolyn_thorpe - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters