# Dan Oliphant — National Avenue character guide > Dan Oliphant in National Avenue by Booth Tarkington. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Daniel, Henry Oliphant, Mr. Daniel Oliphant, young Daniel **First appearance:** 0001-national-avenue ## Who they are The Oliphant son who chafes against his family's genteel expectations and throws himself into business, courtship, and the messy work of becoming his own man. ## Relationships ### [Lena McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan) _romantic_ Dan and Lena share a deep, passionate romantic connection, often at the center of the story's emotional conflicts. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _family_ Dan and Harlan are brothers, bound by blood but often strained by rivalry and differing loyalties. ### [Martha Shelby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/martha_shelby) _romantic_ Dan and Martha have a complicated romantic history, marked by attraction and betrayal. ### [Mrs. Savage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/mrs_savage) _professional_ Dan works for Mrs. Savage, a powerful and manipulative employer who controls much of his fate. ### [George McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/george_mcmillan) _rivalry_ Dan and George are bitter rivals, competing for Lena's affection and social standing. ### [Sam Kohn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/sam_kohn) _friendship_ Dan and Sam are close friends and confidants, often supporting each other through personal crises. ### [Grandma Savage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/grandma_savage) _family_ Grandma Savage is Dan's grandmother, offering him occasional warmth but also family obligation. ### [Fred Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/fred_oliphant) _family_ Fred is Dan's younger brother, looking up to Dan but caught in the family's dysfunction. ### [Earl of Ornaby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/earl_of_ornaby) _social_ Dan and the Earl are acquaintances from the upper social circles, with little personal connection. ### [Miss Shelby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/miss_shelby) _social_ Miss Shelby is Martha's sister, and Dan interacts with her primarily through family obligations. ### [Mr. Shelby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/mr_shelby) _professional_ Mr. Shelby is a business associate of Dan, with a formal and transactional relationship. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _family_ Dan and Harlan are brothers, bound by blood but often strained by rivalry and differing loyalties. ## In the story ### [National Avenue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/national-avenue) Marries Lena McMillan and moves to National Avenue, facing family disapproval and marital strain. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/i) The lively, disorderly older brother who enjoys playing with ragtag boys and running a bracket-making business with Sam Kohn. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/ii) Graduates from university and enjoys New York's social scene; becomes infatuated with Lena McMillan. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/iii) Returns home from New York, dressed in formal attire, and reveals his engagement to Martha. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/iv) Visits his grandmother and defends his engagement to Lena McMillan, but is troubled by her family's objections and the prospect of moving to New York. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/v) Announces his engagement to Lena, feels hurt by his grandmother's reaction and the subdued response from his parents. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/vi) Referenced as tirelessly working on Ornaby Addition, wearing shabby clothes, making speeches to bankers, and being laughed at by the town. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/vii) Dan is deeply absorbed in promoting Ornaby Addition, neglecting his appearance and writing to Lena about the impossibility of a European honeymoon and the need to live in his city. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/viii) Lena's fiancé, who is the subject of her letter and her indecision. He is described as a 'likable chap' by George, but Lena resents his insistence that she move to the West. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/ix) Perplexed and hurt by Lena's reaction; tries to defend his family, friends, and hometown, but fails to understand her distress. ### [The Heat of the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/x) Paces the lawn in distress, trying to understand Lena's unhappiness and clinging to hopes for Ornaby Addition. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xi) Proudly shows Lena Ornaby Addition but fails to comfort her during the storm; inadvertently mentions Martha Shelby, causing Lena's anger. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as Lena's husband, a foolish but not bad person, and as the one who should have married Martha. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xiii) Absent from home, presumed to be celebrating the birth of his son; possibly at Martha Shelby's house. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xiv) Elated over his newborn son, Dan passionately discusses his plans for Ornaby Addition and a new automobile factory, and asks Martha to be his son's godmother. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xv) Dan is jubilant as a new father but is blindsided by Lena's anger over his visit to Martha, showing his obliviousness to her feelings. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvi) Determinedly optimistic about saving Ornaby Addition despite financial pressure and family doubts; also troubled by Lena's rejection of Martha as godmother. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvii) Receives only $3,500 from his grandmother's will but is overjoyed, seeing it as enough to save Ornaby Addition. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xviii) Refuses family financial help, insists on building Ornaby Addition independently, and shows optimism despite his grandmother's lack of faith. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xix) Discussed indirectly; Martha defends his Ornaby Addition project as a success, while Harlan claims it is financially precarious. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xx) Sits silently writing letters while Lena watches him, avoiding the topic of Martha's return. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxi) Avoids Martha after her return, builds a carpenter shop for Henry, becomes embarrassed when meeting Martha, and shows signs of middle-age. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxii) Shown as confident and defiant in his business dealings with Mr. Shelby, but awkward and evasive with Martha at the social event, suggesting guilt or discomfort. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxiii) Dan is seen actively supervising construction of his factory and housing, described as being in his element, though his financial tightrope walking is noted. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxiv) Reflects on his father's health and final words, continues his ambitious urban development projects, and remains impervious to criticism. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxv) Grieves his father's death, struggles with Lena's independence and Henry's aloofness, and tries to connect with his son through forced joviality. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxvi) Mentioned as president of the Broadwood Interurban; criticized by Harlan for ruining the city; defends his son Henry. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxvii) Arrives late to the concert, looks tired, and confides to George McMillan about the fight to keep Ornaby Addition. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxviii) Searches for Henry, finds him drunk, decides to sell the car, and argues with Lena about Henry's upbringing. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxix) Suffering from fever and chills, Dan loses control of Ornaby Addition and the Four, and learns Lena has left with Henry. ### [The End of Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxx) Dying, he reflects on his failures and loss of Ornaby, but acknowledges Harlan's help. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxxi) Deceased, but his legacy is invoked through the cars named 'Sheridans' and the preserved Ornaby district. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters