Short Fiction · Character

Clark Darrow

A young man in a Southern town whose charm and connections place him near the center of its social and political machinery, and whose future hinges on being noticed by the right men.

supporting

Also known as Clark, Clark Darrow—he, Nevertheless Clark

First appearance: The Ice Palace

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Clark Darrow is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A friend from Sally Carrol's Southern hometown who appears briefly, representing the warmth and familiarity she misses.

In the storyThe Ice PalaceOpen this moment free

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Clark Darrow moves among the promising young men of his city, the kind watched by old political hands like Mr. Fraser, who measures youth by steadiness rather than brilliance. He belongs to the generation being groomed for the State Senate and the party's future, caught between the flattery of admiring women and the harder discipline of real work. His presence in the story's early arc sets the stakes of ambition and reputation in a town where a single speech can make a career.

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See Clark Darrow in The Ice Palace

Character Web

9 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Southern wild youth
Love and ambition
Southern social drama
Social climbers and romantics

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Val reaches his emotional and psychological peak in this passage as he confronts the painful gap between his r…

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In the story

Clark Darrow appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Ice Palace
A friend from Sally Carrol's Southern hometown who appears briefly, representing the warmth and familiarity she misses.
I
A dark, lean young man with a petulant expression and frequent smiles. He drives an ancient Ford and has a small income, spending his days lounging around Tarleton.
V
Briefly invoked by Sally Carrol in her panic as someone who would understand her plight.
VI
Arrives in an old Ford, whistles to get Sally Carrol's attention, and invites her swimming.
The Jelly-Bean
A friend of Jim's who introduces him to the social scene at the country club.
I
An old school friend of Jim's who invites him to the party at the country club. He is one of the best beaux of the town.
II
Drives Jim to the dance, provides him with corn liquor, and gossips about Nancy Lamar's wild reputation and her suitor Ogden Merritt.
III
Jim's friend who dances and later joins the dice game, exchanging alarmed glances with Joe Ewing.
IV
Clark informs Jim of Nancy Lamar's marriage to Merritt and shares his own gloom about the situation.

Chapter companion notes

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See Clark Darrow in The Ice Palace