# Arthur Kipps — Kipps character guide > Arthur Kipps in Kipps by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Kipps, Artie, Art, old Kipps, young Kipps, little Kipps, the fortunate Kipps, Art Kipps, Arthur Waddy Kipps **First appearance:** 0001-kipps ## Snapshot A draper's apprentice flung from counter and patched trousers into sudden fortune, Kipps must learn who he is when money rewrites every rule he was raised by. ## Who they are Kipps begins as a shop-boy whose world is collars, cribs, and the dread of the 'key of the street,' until an inheritance lifts him into a society whose manners he can only ape. His central struggle is the gap between the self he knows and the gentleman he is told to become, a tension sharpened by his awkward loyalties to Buggins, Sid, and the people who knew him before. Watching him fumble toward respectability is the engine of the early and middle book, since every new acquaintance offers a different answer to what he should be. ## Relationships ### [Helen Walshingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/helen_walshingham) _romantic_ Arthur is infatuated with Helen, who represents social aspiration and sophistication, but their relationship is fraught with tension and mismatched expectations. ### [Ann Pornick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/ann_pornick) _romantic_ Ann is Arthur's childhood sweetheart and later his true love, representing genuine affection and simplicity against the pretensions of high society. ### [Chester Coote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/chester_coote) _social_ Chester Coote acts as Arthur's social mentor, attempting to polish his manners and integrate him into upper-class society, often with condescension. ### [Harry Chitterlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/harry_chitterlow) _friendship_ Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new social circles and encourages his theatrical ambitions. ### [Sid Pornick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/sid_pornick) _friendship_ Sid Pornick is Arthur's loyal childhood friend and later brother-in-law, providing grounded advice and support throughout Arthur's social ascent. ### [Mrs. Walshingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/mrs_walshingham) _social_ Mrs. Walshingham is Helen's mother, who views Arthur primarily as a financial prospect for her daughter and treats him with calculated politeness. ### [Masterman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/masterman) _friendship_ Masterman is an older, cynical socialist who befriends Arthur and offers sharp critiques of class society, influencing Arthur's worldview. ### [Buggins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/buggins) _professional_ Buggins is Arthur's colleague at Shalford's drapery shop, sharing the drudgery of lower-middle-class work life with him. ### [Mr. Shalford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/mr_shalford) _professional_ Mr. Shalford is Arthur's employer at the drapery shop, a pompous and exploitative boss who treats his employees with disdain. ### [Pierce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/pierce) _professional_ Pierce is a fellow draper's assistant at Shalford's, a colleague who shares the mundane routines and frustrations of shop life. ### [Miss Coote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/miss_coote) _social_ Miss Coote is Chester Coote's sister, a minor social acquaintance who participates in the efforts to refine Arthur's manners. ### [Carshot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/carshot) _professional_ Carshot is another colleague at Shalford's drapery, part of the group of assistants who share Arthur's working-class frustrations. ## In the story ### [Kipps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/kipps) The protagonist, a simple boy from New Romney, beginning his journey as a draper's apprentice. ### [Book I: The Making of Kipps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/book-i-the-making-of-kipps) Introduced as a young boy in New Romney, later becomes a draper's apprentice. ### [I: The Little Shop at New Romney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/i-the-little-shop-at-new-romney) Young Kipps, just finished school, experiences first romantic stirrings for Ann Pornick and prepares to leave for draper apprenticeship. ### [II: The Emporium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/ii-the-emporium) Begins his apprenticeship at Shalford's, enduring fines and harsh treatment, and starts to develop romantic interests and social aspirations. ### [III: The Woodcarving Class](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/iii-the-woodcarving-class) Attends the woodcarving class, feels inferior and adores Helen Walshingham; dreams of becoming an author and seeks self-improvement. ### [IV: Chitterlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/iv-chitterlow) Kipps is in a state of despondency over the loss of his woodcarving class and his relationship with Helen Walshingham. He is knocked down by Chitterlow's bicycle and later drinks whiskey with him, becoming increasingly engaged in Chitterlow's theatrical stories. ### [Swapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/v-swapped) Kipps is fired after his night out, struggles with his hangover and self-disgust, and experiences a painful farewell with Helen Walshingham. ### [The Unexpected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/vi-the-unexpected) Kipps is the central figure, torn between hope and fear as he responds to an advertisement and later learns of his inheritance. ### [Book II: Mr. Coote, the Chaperon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/book-ii-mr-coote-the-chaperon) Kipps is the central figure, navigating the challenges of his new social position under Coote's tutelage. ### [The New Conditions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/i-the-new-conditions) Kipps confides in Coote about his struggles with wealth, temptation, and his desire for culture and refinement. ### [The Walshinghams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/ii-the-walshinghams) Visits the Cootes and Walshinghams, feels insecure about his social graces, and tries to educate himself with books on manners and conversation. ### [Engaged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/iii-engaged) Visits the Walshinghams to formalize his engagement; feels insecure about his social graces and seeks guidance from Helen and Coote. ### [IV: The Bicycle Manufacturer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/iv-the-bicycle-manufacturer) Kipps visits New Romney in a hired motor car, attempting to announce his engagement to Helen but failing to find the right moment. He feels a sense of triumph but also awkwardness with his uncle and Sid. ### [V: The Pupil Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/v-the-pupil-lover) Kipps grapples with the social consequences of his engagement and enrichment, feeling the strain between his old life and new aspirations. ### [Discords](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/vi-discords) Torn between his gentlemanly aspirations and his feelings for Ann; struggles with social obligations imposed by Helen. ### [London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/vii-london) Flees to London to avoid social conflict, stays at the Royal Grand Hotel, and visits Masterman. ### [VIII: Kipps Enters Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/viii-kipps-enters-society) Attends the Anagram Tea, feeling anxious and out of place; later receives Ann's half sixpence, signaling the end of their connection. ### [IX: The Labyrinthodon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/ix-the-labyrinthodon) Flees to London with Ann, announces marriage, discusses future life with Ann, compares Coote to Labyrinthodon. ### [Book III: Kippses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/book-iii-kippses) Now married to Ann, Kipps continues to grapple with his social standing and the pressures of his inherited wealth. ### [I: The Housing Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/i-the-housing-problem) Newly married, Kipps is anxious about social appearances and struggles with the housing search, eventually deciding to build a house despite his lack of experience. ### [II: The Callers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/ii-the-callers) Feels remorse and social inadequacy after reading a novel that condemns marrying beneath one's class; broods over his house, his failed engagement to Helen, and his low marriage to Ann; quarrels with Ann over cards and buttered toast. ### [Terminations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/chapters/iii-terminations) Now a bookseller in Hythe, reflecting on his past and enjoying a quiet life with Ann. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters/arthur_kipps - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kipps_se/characters