Manalive · Character

Innocent Smith

An exuberant stranger blown in on a great wind, he upends Beacon House with wild cheerfulness — and stands accused of crimes no one can quite believe.

major

Also known as Smith, Mr. Smith, Innocent, the harlequin Smith, the preposterous Smith, poor Mr. Smith, Mr. Innocent Smith, old Smith, the accused Smith, The massive Mr. Smith

First appearance: How the Great Wind Came to Beacon House

See Innocent Smith in How the Great Wind Came to Beacon House Book page

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Innocent Smith arrives at a desolate boarding house like a force of nature, carrying drama into undramatic lives and winning instant popularity with his preposterous good humor. Yet telegrams and documents accuse him of burglary, desertion, and worse, forcing his new friends to reconcile the man they see with the monster they're told he is. His paradox — saint or scoundrel, harlequin or criminal — drives the mystery that the entire novel circles around.

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Character Web

20 connections

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

Relationship types

Friendship
Romantic
Professional

Character groups

Protagonist
Beacon House Residents & Associates

+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 excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it delivers the emotional and psychological peak of the trial’s…

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Relationships

Michael Moon
friendship · positive
Arthur Inglewood
friendship · positive
Rosamund Hunt
romantic · positive
Diana Duke
romantic · ambivalent
Dr. Cyrus Pym
professional · ambivalent
Moses Gould
rivalry · negative
Mary Gray
friendship · positive
Dr. Emerson Eames
psychological · ambivalent
Warner
friendship · positive
Michael Moon
friendship · positive
Rosamund Hunt
romantic · positive
Dr. Cyrus Pym
professional · ambivalent

Michael Moon
Innocent and Michael are close friends and allies, sharing adventures and a zest for life.
Arthur Inglewood
Arthur and Innocent share a strong bond of camaraderie and mutual respect.
Rosamund Hunt
Innocent is a romantic suitor to Rosamund, bringing excitement and chaos into her life.
Diana Duke
Diana is drawn to Innocent with romantic tension, though their relationship is complicated.
Dr. Cyrus Pym
Dr. Cyrus Pym professionally evaluates Innocent, treating him as a psychological case study.
Moses Gould
Innocent and Moses are adversaries, with Moses opposing Innocent's disruptive influence.
Mary Gray
Innocent and Mary share a warm friendship, with Mary often charmed by his eccentricity.
Dr. Emerson Eames
Dr. Emerson Eames is obsessed with analyzing Innocent as a psychological anomaly.
Warner
Innocent and Warner are friendly, with Warner often amused by Innocent's antics.
Michael Moon
Innocent and Michael are close friends and allies, sharing adventures and a zest for life.
Rosamund Hunt
Innocent is a romantic suitor to Rosamund, bringing excitement and chaos into her life.
Dr. Cyrus Pym
Dr. Cyrus Pym professionally evaluates Innocent, treating him as a psychological case study.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Innocent Smith appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Part I: The Enigmas of Innocent Smith
Arrives at Beacon House, bringing chaos and joy, and begins to transform the household with his games and institutions.
How the Great Wind Came to Beacon House
The mysterious stranger who appears in the garden; produces a scarlet card-case and a large card that is blown away by the wind.
The Luggage of an Optimist
Arrives at Beacon House, climbing the wall and tree, and unpacks his eccentric luggage with childlike enthusiasm.
III: The Banner of Beacon
Drives the day's creative chaos, turning hobbies into institutions; proposes the 'Lightning Dressmaking Company' and engages in 'Moral Photography.'
The Garden of the God
Offstage for most of the chapter; his proposal to Mary Gray is the catalyst for the events. He later fires a revolver at Dr. Warner.
The Allegorical Practical Joker
Smith is the subject of the allegorical discussion; he is described as a 'ritualist' who expresses himself through actions rather than words, and his silent practical jokes are interpreted as meaningful allegories.
Part II: The Explanations of Innocent Smith
Provides explanations for his actions, defending his philosophy of life and love.
I: The Eye of Death; or, the Murder Charge
The accused, sitting in the dock making paper toys; also appears in flashback as a young undergraduate who threatens Dr. Eames with a revolver, then repents.
II: The Two Curates; or, the Burglary Charge
Described in Percy's letter as a man who plays the stranger in his own home to renew wonder; remains bowed over paper toys during the trial.
III: The Round Road; or, the Desertion Charge
Accused of desertion and bigamy; his actions are described through the gardener's and innkeeper's accounts.
IV: The Wild Weddings; or, the Polygamy Charge
Accused of polygamy; his actions are defended as a romantic game of recapturing his one wife.
How the Great Wind Went from Beacon House
Bursts from the house after being acquitted, turns cartwheels on the lawn, climbs to an attic window, and waves a flaming log while shouting 'Beacon House!' before disappearing with Mary.

Chapter companion notes

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See Innocent Smith in How the Great Wind Came to Beacon House