# Charles Goodfellow — Short Fiction character guide

> Charles Goodfellow in Short Fiction by Edgar Allan Poe.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. B Charles Goodfellow, Charley Goodfellow, Old Charley Goodfellow, Charles

**First appearance:** 0053-thou-art-the-man

## Snapshot

Old Charley Goodfellow, the missing merchant's boon companion, whose theatrical grief and eager assistance conceal a more complicated relationship with his neighbor's fortune.

## Who they are

Old Charley Goodfellow is Shuttleworthy's closest crony, a daily visitor who drinks his neighbor's Château Margaux by the quart and professes brotherly affection. When Shuttleworthy vanishes, Charley's grief is so overwhelming that he can barely function, yet his eagerness to help and his odd suggestions about waiting before raising an alarm draw quiet suspicion. He matters because the investigation's early arc depends on whether this devoted friend is exactly what he appears to be.

## Relationships

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_friendship_

Charles Goodfellow is a friend of the narrator, though his true motives and identity are later revealed to be deceptive.

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_friendship_

Charles Goodfellow is a friend of the narrator, though his true motives and identity are later revealed to be deceptive.

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_friendship_

Charles Goodfellow is a friend of the narrator, though his true motives and identity are later revealed to be deceptive.

## In the story

### [Thou Art the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/chapters/thou-art-the-man)

The true murderer who frames Mr. Pennifeather; he confesses and dies after the narrator's ruse.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters/charles_goodfellow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_14_se/characters