Jasper Milvain

Marian Yule

Jasper courts Marian for her intellect and potential inheritance, but his affection is calculating and ultimately self-serving.

Amy Reardon

Amy is drawn to Jasper's ambition and social success, leading to a relationship that contrasts sharply with her marriage to Edwin.

Dora Milvain

Dora is Jasper's younger sister, who admires him but also feels the weight of his manipulative influence on the family.

Maud Milvain

Maud is Jasper's other sister, who often colludes with him in social schemes but is also subject to his casual manipulation.

Edwin Reardon

Edwin resents Jasper's cynical success and his growing closeness to Amy, viewing him as a symbol of everything wrong with the literary market.

Alfred Yule

Alfred despises Jasper's shallow, commercial approach to writing, seeing him as a threat to serious literature and to his own daughter's future.

Mrs. Whelpdale

Jasper interacts with Mrs. Whelpdale as a social acquaintance, using her connections to advance his own standing.

Marian Yule

Jasper courts Marian for her intellect and potential inheritance, but his affection is calculating and ultimately self-serving.

Marian Yule

Jasper courts Marian for her intellect and potential inheritance, but his affection is calculating and ultimately self-serving.

Amy Reardon

Amy is drawn to Jasper's ambition and social success, leading to a relationship that contrasts sharply with her marriage to Edwin.

Dora Milvain

Dora is Jasper's younger sister, who admires him but also feels the weight of his manipulative influence on the family.

Dora Milvain

Dora is Jasper's younger sister, who admires him but also feels the weight of his manipulative influence on the family.

A Man of His Day

Argues that writing is a business, criticizes Reardon's artistic ideals, and reveals his own pragmatic approach to literature.

The House of Yule

Jasper identifies Alfred Yule and his daughter by sight, visits their home, and engages in a debate with John Yule about literature and civilization.

Holiday

Jasper spends his holiday with family, meets Marian Yule, and returns to London. He is calculating and self-aware, avoiding emotional entanglement.

An Author and His Wife

Referenced by Amy as an advocate of writing for the market; his pragmatic views contrast with Reardon's artistic ideals.

The Practical Friend

Visits the Reardons, shares news of meeting Alfred Yule and Marian Yule, and advises Edwin on writing a sensational novel.

Marian's Home

Mentioned in Dora's letter and discussed by Marian and her parents; seen at the Museum but does not recognize Marian.

To the Winning Side

Visits Marian, confesses his faults and ambitions, discusses his sisters' move to London.

IX: Invita Minerva

His advice to write a sensational novel proves useless to Reardon.

X: The Friends of the Family

Jasper visits Reardon and Biffen in the evening, discussing Whelpdale's failed novel and the realities of the literary market. He smokes casually in Amy's presence, showing his ease.

Work Without Hope

Visits the Reardons, announces his sisters have moved to London, offers to help Reardon with a review and introductions to publishers.

A Warning

Rumored to have written the hostile review of Yule's book in The Current; his call on Marian earlier is recalled.

Recruits

Discusses money and ambition with Marian, denies writing the hostile review of Alfred Yule's book, and later boasts about his productive day of writing.

XV: The Last Resource

Visits briefly, discusses the three-volume system and the literary marketplace; estrangement from Reardon grows.

Rejection

Seen by Biffen walking with Amy Reardon in Tottenham Court Road.

XVII: The Parting

Mentioned as a contrast to Reardon; Amy is attracted to his energy and success, which exacerbates Reardon's insecurity.

XX: The End of Waiting

Receives visits from Dora and Whelpdale, then visits Mrs. Yule to discuss Reardon's situation, and later confronts Reardon on the street.

Mr. Yule Leaves Town

Mentioned as a rising periodicalist and ally of Fadge; Yule suspects him of base motives toward Marian.

XXII: The Legatees

Engages in a philosophical debate with Whelpdale about love and marriage, arguing for a pragmatic, unsentimental approach. Later learns of Marian's inheritance and reacts with excitement, but remains anxious and indecisive about his own plans.

XXIV: Jasper’s Magnanimity

Arranges a private meeting with Marian, reveals his part in the Reardon separation, proposes marriage, and shows practical concerns about her inheritance.

XXV: A Fruitless Meeting

Mentioned as informing Reardon that Amy had fallen ill.

Married Woman's Property

Meets Amy by chance, reveals his engagement to Marian Yule, defends his motives against Amy's ironic questioning, and discusses his improving prospects.

Interim

Discusses his marriage plans and strategies for social advancement with his sisters; hosts Whelpdale and reflects on his ambitions and doubts.

XXIX: Catastrophe

Writes to Alfred Yule to confess his engagement to Marian; his letter triggers the chapter's central conflict.

XXX: Waiting on Destiny

Frustrated by the loss of Marian's inheritance, vents his anger, and questions the viability of their marriage.

XXXIII: The Sunny Way

Writing reviews for Biffen's book and a memorial article on Reardon; reveals Maud's engagement to Dolomore.

A Check

Hurriedly meets Marian in Regent's Park, reacts coolly to her news, and later takes a holiday with Dora to the Channel Islands.

Fever and Rest

Mentioned as having made efforts to help Biffen's book, but without success.

XXXVI: Jasper's Delicate Case

Struggles with his promise to marry Marian after being refused by Miss Rupert; proposes immediate marriage to Marian but is conflicted.

XXXVII: Rewards

Now married to Amy Reardon, hosts a dinner party, learns of Alfred Yule's death, and receives an offer to edit The Current; writes a panegyric on Clement Fadge.