Leonard Bast

Helen Schlegel

A brief, impulsive affair born of pity and attraction, leading to pregnancy and tragedy.

Margaret Schlegel

A sympathetic but unequal friendship, with Margaret trying to help Leonard improve his station in life.

Charles Wilcox

Class antagonism, with Charles bullying and ultimately causing Leonard's death through his rigid sense of propriety.

Jacky Bast

Unhappily married couple, with Jacky's dependence and infidelity contributing to Leonard's despair.

Helen Schlegel

A brief, impulsive affair born of pity and attraction, leading to pregnancy and tragedy.

Margaret Schlegel

A sympathetic but unequal friendship, with Margaret trying to help Leonard improve his station in life.

Helen Schlegel

A brief, impulsive affair born of pity and attraction, leading to pregnancy and tragedy.

Jacky Bast

Unhappily married couple, with Jacky's dependence and infidelity contributing to Leonard's despair.

Charles Wilcox

Class antagonism, with Charles bullying and ultimately causing Leonard's death through his rigid sense of propriety.

Jacky Bast

Unhappily married couple, with Jacky's dependence and infidelity contributing to Leonard's despair.

Charles Wilcox

Class antagonism, with Charles bullying and ultimately causing Leonard's death through his rigid sense of propriety.

Margaret Schlegel

A sympathetic but unequal friendship, with Margaret trying to help Leonard improve his station in life.

Chapter V

Sits next to Margaret at the concert, struggling to keep up with her cultured conversation; earlier fled the Schlegel home in embarrassment after being made to feel his poverty.

VI

Introduced as a poor clerk on the verge of gentility; walks home from the Schlegels, feeling wounded pride and inferiority; reads Ruskin and attends concerts in hopes of self-improvement; lives with Jacky in a dark, stuffy flat.

XIV

Visits the Schlegels to explain the card incident; recounts his night walk and struggles with culture and poverty.

XV

Becomes the central topic of the dinner debate; his poverty and potential are discussed by the Schlegels and others.

Chapter XVI

Feels patronized and exploited by the Schlegels, angrily accuses them of picking his brain, and leaves in frustration.

XXII

Referenced as the clerk whose salary was cut due to the Porphyrion affair; his situation fuels Helen's anger.

Chapter XXVI

Leonard is present with Helen and Jacky, seeking work; Margaret tries to help him by asking Henry for a job.

XXVII

Shares his family history and shame about Jacky's past, conceals his knowledge of Mr. Wilcox's affair with Jacky, and expresses his materialist view of life.

XXVIII

Margaret writes him a letter saying Henry has no vacancy; he is seen with Helen at the George hotel.

XXIX

Has left the George with Jacky, leaving no message; Margaret worries about their responsibility for him.

Chapter XXX

Evicted and disappeared after refusing Helen's financial help.

Chapter XL

Reflected upon as a cause rather than a man, central to Helen's emotional journey and the events of the evening.

XLI

Consumed by remorse and guilt, Leonard seeks Margaret to confess, suffers from hallucinations, and degrades himself to begging from his family.

XLII

Hides at Howards End, is discovered by Charles, and dies after a struggle involving a fallen bookcase.

XLIII

Lies dead in the garden; his hands are folded on his breast and filled with flowers.