# De Young — Poetry character guide

> De Young in Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** De Young Solus, Sees De Young, De Young Never

**First appearance:** 0000-poetry

## Snapshot

A figure whose name Bierce turns and twists in punning variations, De Young is a presence the poems can never quite leave alone.

## Who they are

De Young appears through a series of verbal contortions, his name split and recombined in ways that make him more a linguistic plaything than a person. He belongs to the collection's habit of treating proper names as raw material for wit, and his repeated, teasing mentions suggest a running joke the poet cannot resist. He matters as an example of how Bierce's satire often operates at the level of the syllable, mocking even as it names.

## In the story

### [Indictment on Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/indictment-on-evidence)

Not directly present; the constable is an old horse-reporter, possibly a reference to De Young's newspaper background.

### [In His Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-his-hand)

The gallant protagonist who takes his life in his hand to demand fair ballot counting from Buckley.

### [The Mummery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-mummery)

Referenced as part of the satirical portrayal of public figures in the mummery.

### [Aspirants Three](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/aspirants-three)

A dead politician who initially chooses the War Department, then reforms after a prophetic dream, vowing to withdraw from politics.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters/de_young
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters