# Victor Morse — One of Ours character guide

> Victor Morse in One of Ours by Willa Cather.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Victor, Morse

**First appearance:** 0061-i

## Snapshot

A brash young American who talked his way into the British army and now dispenses hot whiskey, tea, and worldly advice aboard ship.

## Who they are

Victor is the kind of man who orders garnished toast in an officers' smoking-room and shrugs off a change of destination with 'c'est la guerre.' He came from a bank in Crystal Lake, a preacher's daughter, and two pairs of white pants a summer, until Canadian officers at Niagara Falls opened his horizon. Claude, so little Victor's kind, finds himself oddly fond of him; Victor's easy cosmopolitanism is both a temptation and a mirror for what the war might make of a Nebraska boy.

## Relationships

### [Claude Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/claude_wheeler)

_social_

Claude meets Victor, a brash, cynical young soldier, during training and finds him both irritating and intriguing.

### [Claude Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/claude_wheeler)

_social_

Claude meets Victor, a brash, cynical young soldier, during training and finds him both irritating and intriguing.

### [Claude Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/claude_wheeler)

_social_

Claude meets Victor, a brash, cynical young soldier, during training and finds him both irritating and intriguing.

## In the story

### [Book IV: The Voyage of the Anchises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/book-iv-the-voyage-of-the-anchises)

A brash, experienced soldier who embodies the wartime bravado.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/iv)

Victor Morse, the aviator, shares stories of his aerial adventures, including bringing down a female pilot, and expresses a desire to go to London.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/v)

Victor Morse is mentioned as the officer under whom the Virginian berthed.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/vi)

Victor Morse is asked to move to another stateroom to make room for Fanning's care.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/vii)

Shares his story of escaping Iowa life, shows Claude a photograph of his lover Maisie, and discusses his plans.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/viii)

Mentioned as someone who enlisted in Canada, contrasting with Claude's earlier hesitation.

### [Book V: “Bidding the Eagles of the West Fly On”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/book-v-bidding-the-eagles-of-the-west-fly-on)

A comrade-in-arms during the voyage and training, representing the diverse personalities in the army.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/i)

Victor Morse helps Claude hire a taxi to take Fanning to the base hospital.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/ii)

Hosts dinner for Claude, speaks of escaping his past life, and announces his departure for Verdun.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/ix)

Reported shot down inside German lines three weeks ago; remembered by Claude as a 'debauched baby' seeking his enemy in the clouds.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/victor_morse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters