Short Fiction · Character

John T. Unger

A young Southerner of faded gentility who accepts a party invitation and finds himself drawn into a world of wealth, mystery, and quiet menace.

major

Also known as John, young John T. Unger, John Unger, Unger

First appearance: i

As a major figure in Short Fiction, John T. Unger is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The protagonist, a young man from Hades, invited to the Washington estate.

In the storyThe Diamond as Big as the RitzOpen this moment free

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John T. Unger comes from a family whose white house and officer's portrait once meant something, but who now picks up odd jobs and avoids parties where he might be mistaken for the help. When a casual invitation pulls him back toward the social set he thought he'd lost, his half-frightened sense of adventure carries him into a world whose rules he doesn't understand. His outsider's hunger to belong is the engine of a story about what the rich keep behind their doors.

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See John T. Unger in i

Character Web

42 connections

A slice of how John T. Unger sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Social climbers and romantics
Varied fates and transformations
Wealth and isolation

+37 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

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

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Relationships

Rags Martin-Jones
romantic · ambivalent
John is romantically intrigued by the mysterious and wealthy Rags, leading to a… How this plays out →
Kismine
romantic · ambivalent
Rags Martin-Jones
romantic · ambivalent
John is romantically intrigued by the mysterious and wealthy Rags, leading to a… How this plays out →
Kismine
romantic · ambivalent
Rags Martin-Jones
romantic · ambivalent
John is romantically intrigued by the mysterious and wealthy Rags, leading to a… How this plays out →
Kismine
romantic · ambivalent

Rags Martin-Jones
John is romantically intrigued by the mysterious and wealthy Rags, leading to a relationship built on deception and allure.
Kismine
John falls in love with the beautiful and naive Kismine, but their romance is complicated by her family's dark secrets.
Rags Martin-Jones
John is romantically intrigued by the mysterious and wealthy Rags, leading to a relationship built on deception and allure.
Kismine
John falls in love with the beautiful and naive Kismine, but their romance is complicated by her family's dark secrets.
Rags Martin-Jones
John is romantically intrigued by the mysterious and wealthy Rags, leading to a relationship built on deception and allure.
Kismine
John falls in love with the beautiful and naive Kismine, but their romance is complicated by her family's dark secrets.

Relationship notes

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

See John T. Unger in i

In the story

John T. Unger appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Diamond as Big as the Ritz
The protagonist, a young man from Hades, invited to the Washington estate.
II
The protagonist from Hades, who is awestruck by the Washington château and its diamond mountain.
III
John awakens and experiences an extravagant bath and grooming ritual, then meets Percy.
IV
Listener to Percy's story, staying with the Washington family.
V
John explores the estate, meets Kismine, and is deeply impressed by her beauty and innocence.
VI
John is being shown around the Washington estate, observing the slaves' quarters and the pit of captured aviators, feeling uncomfortable under Braddock Washington's dominance.
VII
In love with Kismine, he gives her a gold football and treasures a sapphire from her hair.
VIII
John enjoys the estate's wonders, plans to elope with Kismine, and is horrified by the revelation of murdered guests.
IX
Awakens to the attack, narrowly avoids execution, and plans escape with Kismine.
The Bribe to God and the Fall of the Washington Empire
Observes Braddock Washington's prayer and the subsequent explosion, then escapes with Kismine and her sister.
XI
John leads the escape, reacts to the rhinestone mistake, and philosophizes about youth and disillusionment.
II
John Chestnut, the persistent suitor who tries to win Rags by promising a glimpse of the Prince of Wales.
III
John Chestnut accompanies Rags to the Hole in the Sky, explaining the venue and the entertainment, and gives her permission to join Baron Marchbanks' party.
IV
John Chestnut (John T. Unger) orchestrates the elaborate hoax, pretending to be a murderer on the run to test Rags's loyalty and create a dramatic spectacle.

Chapter companion notes

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See John T. Unger in i

See John T. Unger in The Diamond as Big as the Ritz