# Yancey Cravat — Cimarron character guide > Yancey Cravat in Cimarron by Edna Ferber. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Yancey, Cravat, Mr. Yancey, old Cimarron **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot A white-sombratoed, Prince Albert-wearing orator who rides into the Oklahoma Run, founds a newspaper, and cannot stay put long enough to run it. ## Who they are Yancey Cravat is the charismatic pioneer husband Sabra adores and can't quite hold — a man enthralled by the drama of a plan but impatient of its mechanics. He asks dangerous questions about Pegler's death, charms every room, and vanishes westward whenever the frontier calls. His restlessness and his gift for myth-making shape both the town's identity and the ache at the center of his family. ## Relationships ### [Sabra Cravat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/sabra_cravat) _family_ Husband and wife with a passionate but turbulent marriage, marked by Yancey's restless adventuring and Sabra's steadying influence. ### [Isaiah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/isaiah) _professional_ Isaiah serves Yancey with loyalty and admiration, often assisting in his various frontier endeavors. ### [Felice Venable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/felice_venable) _family_ Mother-in-law and son-in-law, with Felice viewing Yancey as an irresponsible adventurer who ruined her daughter's prospects. ### [Mrs. Big Elk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/mrs_big_elk) _social_ A Native American woman who respects Yancey's fair treatment of her people, though cultural barriers remain. ### [Grandma Standing Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/grandma_standing_woman) _friendship_ An elder who shares a mutual respect with Yancey, often acting as a bridge between white settlers and Native Americans. ### [Cimarron Cravat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/cimarron_cravat) _family_ Father and son, with Cimarron idolizing Yancey's adventurous nature while struggling to live up to his legacy. ### [Donna Cravat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/donna_cravat) _family_ Father and daughter, with Donna adoring Yancey's charm but feeling abandoned by his frequent absences. ### [Ruby Big Elk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/ruby_big_elk) _social_ A young Native American woman who interacts with Yancey as a figure of authority and occasional kindness. ### [Sol Levy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/sol_levy) _friendship_ A Jewish merchant who shares a bond of mutual respect and business dealings with Yancey, often defending him against prejudice. ### [Sabra Cravat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/sabra_cravat) _family_ Husband and wife with a passionate but turbulent marriage, marked by Yancey's restless adventuring and Sabra's steadying influence. ### [Sabra Cravat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/sabra_cravat) _family_ Husband and wife with a passionate but turbulent marriage, marked by Yancey's restless adventuring and Sabra's steadying influence. ### [Mrs. Big Elk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/mrs_big_elk) _social_ A Native American woman who respects Yancey's fair treatment of her people, though cultural barriers remain. ## In the story ### [Cimarron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/cimarron) Leads his family to Osage, establishes the Oklahoma Wigwam, and embodies the pioneer spirit and Manifest Destiny. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/i) The central figure of the chapter, described as a charismatic orator with a mysterious past, who captivates the Venable family with his tale of the Oklahoma land rush. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/ii) Tells the story of the Run, defends pioneer women, and declares his intention to return to Oklahoma with his family. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as the driving force behind the move; Sabra briefly sees him as a stranger. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/iv) Drives the other wagon, makes camp matter-of-factly, discovers Black Isaiah stowed away in the carpet roll. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/v) Thrives on the journey, telling Cim stories of treasure and Indian history; teaches Sabra to relax during travel; kills a rattlesnake. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/vi) Cheerfully oblivious to Sabra's distress; quotes Plutarch; leaves her to settle housing details while he arranges the newspaper press. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/vii) Revealed as a deadly marksman with a romantic vision for Oklahoma; he is determined to bring Pegler's murderers to justice and defends the outlaw Kid as a product of the changing frontier. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/viii) Arranges to use the gambling tent for a church service; prepares to preach. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/ix) Conducts the service, confesses his earlier deceit, names the murderer, and shoots Lon Yountis in self-defense. ### [The Founding of the Philomathean Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/x) Publishes a satirical newspaper edition; idealistic but muddled; reveals he knew Mrs. Waltz's past and is amused by Sabra's innocence. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xi) Supports Sabra during childbirth and later rescues Sol Levy from a violent hazing. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xii) Influences Cim through stories of the frontier and Indian editorials; his romanticism shapes the boy's worldview. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xiii) Kills the Kid in a shootout; is exhausted and refuses reward money; conducts the funeral for the outlaws. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xiv) Restless, moody, and irritable; engages in practical jokes, fights for Indian rights and statehood, refuses political office, and insists on making the Cherokee Strip Run despite Sabra's objections. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xv) Absent for five years, he is the subject of wild rumors—that he lives with a Cherokee squaw, was hanged, or leads the Doolin gang; his legend grows in the territory. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xvi) Returns after five years in Alaska and the Spanish-American War, nonchalant and exuberant, immediately decides to defend Dixie Lee in court. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xvii) Defends Dixie Lee in court with a dramatic, sentimental speech. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xviii) Returns from the Spanish-American War as a celebrated Rough Rider; resumes his flamboyant style and editorial role; publishes a radical editorial on Indian rights, ruining his governorship prospects. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xix) Opposes Donna's Eastern schooling; charming with female visitors; drinks heavily; laughs at the salad; leaves the house in a depressed mood. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xx) Returns dramatically during the oil boom, shabby and worn, asserting his ownership of the Wigwam. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xxi) Returns sporadically, writes barbed editorials, champions the Indians, and learns of Dixie Lee's death; his drinking and age show. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xxii) Yancey appears pleased with the marriage, seeing it as a symbol of Oklahoma's future, and handles the situation with charm and diplomacy. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xxiii) Young Yancey Cravat, son of Cim and Ruby, is present at a country club luncheon where he corrects a matron's assumption about Indians. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xxiv) Memorialized as the subject of Krbecek's statue, described as a man who 'so far preceded his time.' ### [Chapter XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/chapters/xxv) Appears as an old, broken bum known as 'old Yance' or 'Sim'; dies after catching a can of nitroglycerin, and Sabra forgives him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters/yancey_cravat - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cimarron_se/characters