# Unknown Narrator — Gullible’s Travels character guide > Unknown Narrator in Gullible’s Travels by Ring Lardner. **Role:** major **Also known as:** I, myself, me **First appearance:** 0001-gullible-s-travels ## Snapshot A card-losing, wisecracking middle-class husband who narrates his own misadventures with more confidence than sense, forever dragged toward culture by a wife who knows better. ## Who they are He opens on a rummy game where he's seven-fifty in the hole and already cracking jokes about Hatch's luck, setting the tone for a man who'd rather wisecrack than win. His running battle with his Missus—over expenses, over shows, over whether to see grand opera or Charley Chaplin—is the engine of every trip he takes. He matters because his deadpan, self-incriminating voice is the whole book: a gullible Everyman narrating his own fleecing with perfect comic timing. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Hatch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/mrs_hatch) _psychological_ Mrs. Hatch dominates and manipulates the narrator, using him as a pawn in her schemes and emotional games. ### [Bess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/bess) _romantic_ Bess is the narrator's love interest, with a warm and affectionate bond that he cherishes. ### [Don Joss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/don_joss) _rivalry_ Don Joss is a cunning antagonist who constantly outwits and undermines the narrator. ### [Joe Tuttle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/joe_tuttle) _friendship_ Joe Tuttle is a loyal friend and companion who shares adventures and misadventures with the narrator. ### [Jim Hatch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/jim_hatch) _professional_ Jim Hatch is the narrator's employer or superior, giving orders and expecting obedience. ### [Frau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/frau) _social_ Frau is a minor acquaintance, likely a landlady or neighbor, with limited but recurring interactions. ### [Flora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/flora) _friendship_ Flora is a friendly and supportive presence, often helping the narrator in social situations. ### [Mrs. Garrett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/mrs_garrett) _social_ Mrs. Garrett is a community figure who interacts with the narrator in social settings, possibly as a gossip or matchmaker. ### [Fred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/fred) _friendship_ Fred is a close friend and confidant, often involved in the narrator's plans and escapades. ### [Pardner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/pardner) _friendship_ Pardner is a trusted companion and ally, sharing a rough-and-tumble camaraderie with the narrator. ### [Gould](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/gould) _professional_ Gould appears to be a business associate or rival in financial matters, with a competitive edge. ### [Veto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/veto) _friendship_ Veto is a loyal pet or animal companion, providing comfort and comic relief to the narrator. ## In the story ### [Gullible's Travels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/gullible-s-travels) The narrator experiences the disappointments of the trip firsthand, expressing his frustration and disillusionment with the entire endeavor. ### [Carmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/carmen) The narrator loses at rummy and is taken to the opera. He provides a comedic, cynical summary of the plot and engages in witty banter with the others. ### [Three Kings and a Pair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/three-kings-and-a-pair) Provides a humorous and skeptical perspective on Bishop, Bess, and the opera. ### [Gullible's Travels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/gullible-s-travels) The narrator recounts the trip to Palm Beach, expressing his disillusionment with the glamour of high society and the discomforts of travel. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/i) The narrator, who is planning the trip to Palm Beach with his wife, is skeptical about the cost but goes along with the plan. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/ii) Engages in witty banter with a stranger on the train, critiques the scenery, and tries to reassure his wife about the journey. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/iii) The narrator is the primary voice, complaining about costs and the lack of glamour in St. Augustine. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/iv) Narrates the chapter, describing the couple's activities and expenses at Palm Beach. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/v) Delivers a speech criticizing their Palm Beach experience, highlighting the cost and lack of social interaction, and proposes leaving. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/vi) Narrates the chapter, expressing dissatisfaction with the trip and arranging the boat journey. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/vii) Reflects on the cost of the trip and the lesson learned. ### [The Water Cure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/the-water-cure) The narrator is skeptical of Bishop's claims and tries to investigate his background, but ultimately decides to tolerate the situation. He also engages in humorous observations during the boat trip. ### [Three Without, Doubled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/three-without-doubled) The narrator observes and comments on the peculiarities of their doubled and displaced state. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/i) The narrator, who warns readers about sensitive words and hints at his family's social struggles. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/ii) The narrator is skeptical and humorous about the bridge club invitation, worried about his lack of bridge skills. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/iii) The narrator plays bridge at the Garretts' party, making witty remarks and getting into a dispute with Mrs. Garrett. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/iv) Dismisses the appeal of Welsh rabbit and comments on the poor quality of the film they saw. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/i) The narrator complains about his wife's poker playing and the dynamics of the regular card games. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/ii) Provides sarcastic and humorous advice to Harry Quinn about marriage and honeymoon costs. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/iii) The narrator is increasingly annoyed by Harry's constant praise of his wife and devises a plan to invite them to a poker game. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/iv) Hosts the poker game, becomes increasingly frustrated with the Quinns' antics and his wife's errors. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/chapters/v) Shaken and determined after losing money to Mrs. Quinn in the poker game. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters/unknown_narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gullible_s_travels_se/characters