Heartbreak House · Character
The Burglar
A comic burglar who breaks into Heartbreak House, later revealed as an old acquaintance.
minor
Also known as The Burglar, the Burglar, Billy Dunn, Mr. William Dunn
First appearance: heartbreak house
The Burglar's tie to Ellie Dunn is one of the pressures that moves Heartbreak House—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
With Ellie Dunn (social): Ellie is startled by the burglar's intrusion but later treats him with a mixture of pity and amusement. With Hesione Hushabye (social): Hesione treats the burglar with theatrical fascination,…
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The fuller portrait of The Burglar sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See The Burglar in heartbreak houseCharacter Web
8 connectionsA slice of how The Burglar sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Social
- Other
Character groups
- Heartbreak House Inhabitants
- Protagonist
+3 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when Shaw violently contracts the narrative from the vast European…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Ellie Dunn
social · ambivalent
Ellie is startled by the burglar's intrusion but later treats him with a mixture of pity… How this plays out →
- Hesione Hushabye
social · ambivalent
- Mazzini Dunn
social · ambivalent
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See The Burglar in heartbreak house