Point Counter Point · Character

Old Mr. Quarles

Philip's grandfather, a senile and lecherous old man.

minor

Also known as Mr. Quarles, Quarles, the deplorable Mr. Quarles

First appearance: ii

Old Mr. Quarles's tie to Philip Quarles is one of the pressures that moves Point Counter Point—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Reading the Encyclopædia Britannica when Gladys arrives; he is frightened and tries to maintain dignity as she berates him.

In the storyXXXIOpen this moment free

See Old Mr. Quarles in XXXI Book page

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With Philip Quarles (family): Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection. With Gladys Helmsley (professional): Gladys is a young maid who begrudgingly cares for the senile Old Mr. Quarles, finding him repulsive but necessary for her employment. With Sidney Quarles (family): Old Mr. Quarles is Sidney's senile father, whom Sidney visits out of familial obligation while secretly resenting the burden.

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See Old Mr. Quarles in ii

Character Web

18 connections

A slice of how Old Mr. Quarles sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Professional
Other

Character groups

Minor family and servants
Protagonist
Central characters and lovers

+13 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

In this excerpt, the narrative climax occurs as the psychological and emotional peak of Sidney Quarles’s hypoc…

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Relationships

Philip Quarles
family · negative
Gladys Helmsley
professional · negative
Sidney Quarles
family · negative
Philip Quarles
family · negative
Sidney Quarles
family · negative
Gladys Helmsley
professional · negative
Philip Quarles
family · negative
Gladys Helmsley
professional · negative

Philip Quarles
Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection.
Gladys Helmsley
Gladys is a young maid who begrudgingly cares for the senile Old Mr. Quarles, finding him repulsive but necessary for her employment.
Sidney Quarles
Old Mr. Quarles is Sidney's senile father, whom Sidney visits out of familial obligation while secretly resenting the burden.
Philip Quarles
Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection.
Sidney Quarles
Old Mr. Quarles is Sidney's senile father, whom Sidney visits out of familial obligation while secretly resenting the burden.
Gladys Helmsley
Gladys is a young maid who begrudgingly cares for the senile Old Mr. Quarles, finding him repulsive but necessary for her employment.
Philip Quarles
Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection.
Gladys Helmsley
Gladys is a young maid who begrudgingly cares for the senile Old Mr. Quarles, finding him repulsive but necessary for her employment.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Old Mr. Quarles in ii

In the story

Old Mr. Quarles appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XXXI

Chapter companion notes

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See Old Mr. Quarles in ii

See Old Mr. Quarles in XXXI