Philip Quarles

Elinor Quarles

Elinor and Philip are a married couple struggling with emotional distance and intellectual detachment in their relationship.

Old Mr. Quarles

Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection.

Miss Fulkes

Miss Fulkes is Philip's devoted former nanny, now a dependent household servant treated with distant kindness.

Spandrell

Philip is intellectually intrigued by Spandrell's philosophical nihilism but remains emotionally detached from him.

Elinor Quarles

Elinor and Philip are a married couple struggling with emotional distance and intellectual detachment in their relationship.

Old Mr. Quarles

Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection.

Miss Fulkes

Miss Fulkes is Philip's devoted former nanny, now a dependent household servant treated with distant kindness.

Spandrell

Philip is intellectually intrigued by Spandrell's philosophical nihilism but remains emotionally detached from him.

Elinor Quarles

Elinor and Philip are a married couple struggling with emotional distance and intellectual detachment in their relationship.

Miss Fulkes

Miss Fulkes is Philip's devoted former nanny, now a dependent household servant treated with distant kindness.

Spandrell

Philip is intellectually intrigued by Spandrell's philosophical nihilism but remains emotionally detached from him.

Old Mr. Quarles

Old Mr. Quarles is Philip's father, a senile and embarrassing figure whom Philip visits out of duty rather than affection.

I

Referenced in Walter's memory for his advice about art and love not being literal.

VI

Shows his intellectual detachment by generalizing about morality and instincts after a dog is run over.

XIV

Engages in a philosophical conversation with Elinor about his new literary approach emphasizing multiplicity of perspectives; reflects on his own liquid, uncommitted self and his admiration for Mark Rampion.

XVII

Interrogates Spandrell about his life choices, offering a scientific curiosity about Spandrell's motivations and suggesting work as a remedy.

Chapter XVIII

Reflects on his war avoidance and his mother's wish that he had been emotionally 'smashed'; uses passive resistance against a persistent carpet seller in Port Said.

XIX

Returns to Gattenden with Elinor, observes the landscape, and later writes in his notebook about the kitchen's historical and scientific implications.

XIX

Behaves atrociously at lunch due to excitement and anxiety, struggling with his emotions and the pressure of his parents' return.

XX

Observes his father's pretensions and hypocrisy with a knowing smile. He is present during the journey to London and notes his father's crossword puzzles, which Sidney tries to hide.

XXI

Engages in debate about art and life, remains emotionally detached from Elinor's hints about Webley, and retreats into reading about Bonellia viridis.

XXII

Author of the notebook; reflects on novelistic techniques, acquisitiveness, and his own under-acquisitive nature.

XXIII

Engages in a philosophical discussion with Rampion about industrialism, progress, and the impossibility of reversing mechanization without massive population reduction.

XXIV

Attempts to teach his son to read but becomes frustrated, leading to a bitter argument with Elinor about parenting.

XXIV

Cries when forced to read, using tears as a weapon to avoid the task, and parrots 'Naughty father!' at Philip.

XXV

Mentioned as planning to settle in the country, which Lucy dismisses as an illusion.

From Philip Quarles's Notebook

The narrator of the notebook, reflecting on Rampion's pessimism and his own intellectual habits.

XXVIII

Visits Molly d'Exergillod, attempts physical intimacy but is rebuffed; later reflects on his own shortcomings and resolves to talk to Elinor.

XXIX

Reflects on his intellectualist tendencies, detachment from emotion, and the difficulty of changing his habits.

XXXII

Visits his father and listens to his dictaphone recordings of disjointed memories and reflections.

XXXIII

Dines alone reading Bastian's 'On the Brain', attends a concert, and discusses the absurdity of life with Willie Weaver.

XXXIV

Laughs at Rampion's attack on intellectuals but feels embarrassed when Rampion mentions physical disability, covering his discomfort with a loud laugh.

XXXV

Arrives late from town, annoyed at being called; stays by his son's bedside and draws pictures for him.

XXXV

Briefly regains sight and speech, smiles, and asks for food; then suffers convulsions and dies.

XXXVI

Meets Spandrell in the London Library; is deeply distressed by his son's illness and plans to go abroad with Elinor.