# Joe Foster — Bertram Cope’s Year character guide > Joe Foster in Bertram Cope’s Year by Henry Blake Fuller. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Joseph Foster, Foster **First appearance:** 0000-i-cope-at-a-college-tea ## Snapshot Cope's cheerful, loyal friend and roommate, a steady presence in a season of shifting attachments. ## Who they are Foster belongs to the small circle of people around Cope who are not competing for him, and his steadiness throws the scheming of Medora and Randolph into relief. He shares the ordinary texture of Cope's life—rooms, work, errands—while the more glamorous hostesses and suitors circle. His loyalty gives Cope one relationship uncomplicated by ambition, and his presence helps measure how much Cope's caution costs him elsewhere. ## Relationships ### [Basil Randolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/basil_randolph) _friendship_ Basil Randolph and Joe Foster are friendly acquaintances, with Randolph often seeking Foster's company. ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _friendship_ Bertram Cope and Joe Foster are casual friends, with Foster often acting as a bridge to other social groups. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Joe Foster is a social acquaintance of Medora Phillips, often included in her parties and events. ### [Medora Phillips](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/medora_phillips) _social_ Joe Foster is a social acquaintance of Medora Phillips, often included in her parties and events. ### [Bertram Cope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/bertram_cope) _friendship_ Bertram Cope and Joe Foster are casual friends, with Foster often acting as a bridge to other social groups. ### [Basil Randolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/basil_randolph) _friendship_ Basil Randolph and Joe Foster are friendly acquaintances, with Randolph often seeking Foster's company. ### [Basil Randolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/basil_randolph) _friendship_ Basil Randolph and Joe Foster are friendly acquaintances, with Randolph often seeking Foster's company. ## In the story ### [IV: Cope Is Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/iv-cope-is-considered) Mentioned as the invalid half-brother of Medora's husband, whom Randolph visits upstairs. ### [V: Cope Is Considered Further](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/v-cope-is-considered-further) Confined to a wheelchair and nearly blind, he hears Cope sing and describes his voice as cool and correct. ### [VII: Cope Under Scrutiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/vii-cope-under-scrutiny) Mentioned briefly as the subject of Randolph's earlier investigation. ### [X: Cope at His House Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/x-cope-at-his-house-party) Joseph Foster is mentioned as the young businessman who condescends to Cope about the academic life, but is not a major focus in this chapter. ### [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) Listens to Hortense's account of Cope's fainting, reacting with a dark 'Hum!' ### [Cope Makes an Evasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xiv-cope-makes-an-evasion) Knitting in his room, expresses bitterness about Cope's fainting and compares the women's reaction to a religious festival. ### [XVIII: Cope at the Call of Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xviii-cope-at-the-call-of-duty) Brought down by Peter; sits in a dark corner listening to tones and undertones; keeps his own counsel. ### [XIX: Cope Finds Himself Committed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xix-cope-finds-himself-committed) Dines with Randolph, bitterly describing the household as 'reeking' with Cope's presence and the stale courtship, revealing his discomfort. ### [XXI: Cope, Safeguarded, Calls Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxi-cope-safeguarded-calls-again) Wheels in to hear the singing, later comments on Lemoyne's familiarities to Randolph. ### [Cope Shall Be Rescued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxii-cope-shall-be-rescued) Restless and bitter, overhears Cope and Lemoyne talking; later discusses the situation with Randolph, comparing the pair to a young married couple. ### [XXIII: Cope Regains His Freedom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxiii-cope-regains-his-freedom) Expresses anger at Cope's ingratitude toward Randolph. ### [XXVI: Cope as a Go-Between](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxvi-cope-as-a-go-between) Expresses bitterness about Cope and Lemoyne's manipulation of others; warns Randolph against helping them. ### [Cope Absent from a Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxviii-cope-absent-from-a-wedding) Present at the wedding; bonds with Amy's younger brother Dick, who soothes his exacerbated spirit. ### [XXXII: Cope Takes His Degree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/chapters/xxxii-cope-takes-his-degree) Expresses blunt opinions about Cope, calling his behavior 'nearer ingratitude,' and declines to attend convocation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters/joe_foster - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bertram_cope_s_year_se/characters