# Leonard Bast — Howards End character guide > Leonard Bast in Howards End by E. M. Forster. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Leonard, Len, Bast **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Who they are A poor insurance clerk who reads Ruskin by moonlight and dreams of culture, forever straining toward a world that keeps shutting the door in his face. ## Relationships ### [Helen Schlegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/helen_schlegel) _romantic_ A brief, impulsive affair born of pity and attraction, leading to pregnancy and tragedy. ### [Margaret Schlegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/margaret_schlegel) _friendship_ A sympathetic but unequal friendship, with Margaret trying to help Leonard improve his station in life. ### [Charles Wilcox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/charles_wilcox) _rivalry_ Class antagonism, with Charles bullying and ultimately causing Leonard's death through his rigid sense of propriety. ### [Jacky Bast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/jacky_bast) _family_ Unhappily married couple, with Jacky's dependence and infidelity contributing to Leonard's despair. ### [Helen Schlegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/helen_schlegel) _romantic_ A brief, impulsive affair born of pity and attraction, leading to pregnancy and tragedy. ### [Margaret Schlegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/margaret_schlegel) _friendship_ A sympathetic but unequal friendship, with Margaret trying to help Leonard improve his station in life. ### [Helen Schlegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/helen_schlegel) _romantic_ A brief, impulsive affair born of pity and attraction, leading to pregnancy and tragedy. ### [Jacky Bast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/jacky_bast) _family_ Unhappily married couple, with Jacky's dependence and infidelity contributing to Leonard's despair. ### [Charles Wilcox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/charles_wilcox) _rivalry_ Class antagonism, with Charles bullying and ultimately causing Leonard's death through his rigid sense of propriety. ### [Jacky Bast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/jacky_bast) _family_ Unhappily married couple, with Jacky's dependence and infidelity contributing to Leonard's despair. ### [Charles Wilcox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/charles_wilcox) _rivalry_ Class antagonism, with Charles bullying and ultimately causing Leonard's death through his rigid sense of propriety. ### [Margaret Schlegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/margaret_schlegel) _friendship_ A sympathetic but unequal friendship, with Margaret trying to help Leonard improve his station in life. ## In the story ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xiv) Visits the Schlegels to explain the card incident; recounts his night walk and struggles with culture and poverty. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xv) Becomes the central topic of the dinner debate; his poverty and potential are discussed by the Schlegels and others. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xvi) Feels patronized and exploited by the Schlegels, angrily accuses them of picking his brain, and leaves in frustration. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xxii) Referenced as the clerk whose salary was cut due to the Porphyrion affair; his situation fuels Helen's anger. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xxvi) Leonard is present with Helen and Jacky, seeking work; Margaret tries to help him by asking Henry for a job. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xxviii) Margaret writes him a letter saying Henry has no vacancy; he is seen with Helen at the George hotel. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xxix) Has left the George with Jacky, leaving no message; Margaret worries about their responsibility for him. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xxx) Evicted and disappeared after refusing Helen's financial help. ### [Chapter XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xl) Reflected upon as a cause rather than a man, central to Helen's emotional journey and the events of the evening. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xli) Consumed by remorse and guilt, Leonard seeks Margaret to confess, suffers from hallucinations, and degrades himself to begging from his family. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xlii) Hides at Howards End, is discovered by Charles, and dies after a struggle involving a fallen bookcase. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/chapters/xliii) Lies dead in the garden; his hands are folded on his breast and filled with flowers. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters/leonard_bast - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/howards_end_se/characters