Kipps · Character

Harry Chitterlow

A boisterous, threadbare playwright who collides with Kipps outside a theatre and, through an advertisement and a drink, accidentally sets the whole fortune in motion.

supporting

Also known as Chitterlow, Harry, old Harry, little Harry, Mrs. Chitterlow

First appearance: IV: Chitterlow

As a supporting figure in Kipps, Harry Chitterlow is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Chitterlow crashes his bicycle into Kipps, then befriends him, taking him to his lodgings.

In the storyIV: ChitterlowOpen this moment free

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Chitterlow is all enthusiasm, theatrical anecdote, and grand schemes for plays that have not yet reached the stage, and he treats Kipps as a fellow spirit rather than a mark. His friendship is warm, indiscreet, and socially embarrassing, which is precisely why Helen wants him dropped and why Kipps cannot quite do it. He matters because he is the accidental author of Kipps's luck and the standing test of whether Kipps will be loyal to the people who knew him before the money.

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The fuller portrait of Harry Chitterlow sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Harry Chitterlow in IV: Chitterlow

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Harry Chitterlow sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Kipps's social origins and influences
Minor figures and social backdrop
Protagonist

+15 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because Kipps experiences the emotional and psychological peak of his inte…

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Relationships

Arthur Kipps
friendship · positive
Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new… How this plays out →
Arthur Kipps
friendship · positive
Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new… How this plays out →
Arthur Kipps
friendship · positive
Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new… How this plays out →

Arthur Kipps
Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new social circles and encourages his theatrical ambitions.
Arthur Kipps
Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new social circles and encourages his theatrical ambitions.
Arthur Kipps
Harry Chitterlow is a boisterous playwright and friend who introduces Arthur to new social circles and encourages his theatrical ambitions.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Harry Chitterlow in IV: Chitterlow

In the story

Harry Chitterlow appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

IV: Chitterlow
Chitterlow crashes his bicycle into Kipps, then befriends him, taking him to his lodgings. He shares vivid anecdotes about his theatrical past, reads a scene from a farcical comedy, and sews Kipps' torn trousers. He encourages Kipps to consider a career in dramatic criticism.
Swapped
Chitterlow hosts Kipps after the accident, gives him anchovy on toast as a pick-me-up, and encourages him to face Shalford.
The New Conditions
Mentioned by Kipps as a friend who might lead him into wild behavior.
V: The Pupil Lover
Chitterlow's boisterous appearance in public embarrasses Kipps and alarms Helen, representing the vulgarity she seeks to eliminate.
II: The Callers
Sends an illegible postcard to Kipps, likely about his play; Kipps cannot read it.
Terminations
Returns in a state of emotional triumph after his play becomes a success, having received two thousand pounds from Kipps.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Harry Chitterlow unlock in the free preview.

See Harry Chitterlow in IV: Chitterlow