# Clark Darrow — Short Fiction character guide

> Clark Darrow in Short Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

**Role:** supporting

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

**First appearance:** 0042-the-ice-palace

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## In the story

### [The Ice Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/the-ice-palace)

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

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/v)

Briefly invoked by Sally Carrol in her panic as someone who would understand her plight.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/vi)

Arrives in an old Ford, whistles to get Sally Carrol's attention, and invites her swimming.

### [The Jelly-Bean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/the-jelly-bean)

A friend of Jim's who introduces him to the social scene at the country club.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iii)

Jim's friend who dances and later joins the dice game, exchanging alarmed glances with Joe Ewing.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iv)

Clark informs Jim of Nancy Lamar's marriage to Merritt and shares his own gloom about the situation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/clark_darrow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters