Doctor Thorne · Character

Dr. Fillgrave

Barchester's pompous physician, jealous of his dignity and his guinea fees, who refuses to consult with Dr. Thorne and lives to regret it.

supporting

Also known as Fillgrave, Doctors Fillgrave

First appearance: i the greshams of greshamsbury

As a supporting figure in Doctor Thorne, Dr. Fillgrave is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A respected Barchester physician who looks down on Dr.

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Dr. Fillgrave is the established physician of Barchester, backed by nearly all his brethren in the county, and a man who will not stoop to meet a country apothecary in consultation. When he declines to attend a patient alongside Dr. Thorne, the insult ignites a newspaper war in which Fillgrave, for all his supercilious bows, is carried round after round like a beaten prizefighter. He reappears at Boxall Hill to attend the dying Sir Louis, where his professional caution and lack of spirit with the bottle prove useless.

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See Dr. Fillgrave in i the greshams of greshamsbury

Character Web

27 connections

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

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Greshamsbury Family and Associates
Minor Characters and Background Figures
Aristocrats and Legal Advisors

+22 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

In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs as Sir Louis, physically and morally debilitated,…

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Relationships

Lady Arabella de Courcy
professional · positive
Lady Arabella de Courcy
professional · positive
Lady Arabella de Courcy
professional · positive

Relationship notes

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See Dr. Fillgrave in i the greshams of greshamsbury

In the story

Dr. Fillgrave appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Dr. Thorne
A respected Barchester physician who looks down on Dr. Thorne's unprofessional methods and low fees.
When Greek Meets Greek, Then Comes the Tug of War
Summoned to Boxall Hill, he is offended when Sir Roger refuses to see him; he rejects a fee to preserve his dignity.
Louis Scatcherd
Mentioned as Mr. Rerechild's friend and a rival of Dr. Thorne; he would not have come to Boxall Hill.
The Small End of the Wedge
Refuses to meet Dr. Thorne professionally, citing past conduct; attends Lady Arabella but is later superseded by Sir Omicron Pie's advice.
The Two Doctors Change Patients
Visits Sir Louis Scatcherd and finds him in the horrors of alcoholism; later dismissed by Frank Gresham on behalf of Lady Arabella.
The Race of Scatcherd Becomes Extinct
Exchanges courtesies with Dr. Thorne after Sir Louis's death.

Chapter companion notes

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

See Dr. Fillgrave in i the greshams of greshamsbury

See Dr. Fillgrave in Dr. Thorne