# Riply Buckner — Short Fiction character guide

> Riply Buckner in Short Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Riply Buckner, Jr., Riply, Buckner

**First appearance:** 0206-i

## Snapshot

A prominent family's son who performs worldliness for his friends, tagging along behind the town's genuinely fast crowd while pretending he belongs to it.

## Who they are

Riply Buckner moves through the carnival evening with Elwood Leaming and Basil, eager to seem a man of the world and nervous beneath the swagger. He laughs more from nerves than derision, seeks Elwood's approval, and teases Basil for being a week behind in experience. His counterfeit confidence captures the exact moment of adolescence when boys learn to fake maturity, and it anchors the story's early arc of imitation and initiation.

## Relationships

### [Basil Duke Lee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/basil_duke_lee)

_friendship_

Basil and Riply are close friends and companions, navigating the trials of youth and social life together.

### [Basil Duke Lee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/basil_duke_lee)

_friendship_

Basil and Riply are close friends and companions, navigating the trials of youth and social life together.

### [Basil Duke Lee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/basil_duke_lee)

_friendship_

Basil and Riply are close friends and companions, navigating the trials of youth and social life together.

## In the story

### [The Scandal Detectives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/the-scandal-detectives)

Member of the Scandal Detectives, participates in the group's activities.

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

Basil's practical and enthusiastic friend, co-author of the Scandal Book, who descends to take lemonade from his mother.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/ii)

A boy present at the gathering, who joins in teasing Basil with the nickname 'Basil the Boozle'.

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

Receives a phone call from Basil about a scheme involving Hubert Blair.

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

Member of the Scandal Detectives; wears a rabbinical beard and is delayed while coiling a rope.

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

Riply arrives with Bill Kampf, claiming Imogene invited him to a party, and finds Hubert's story hilariously amusing.

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

Mentioned as hearing the news about Hubert alongside Basil.

### [A Night at the Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/a-night-at-the-fair)

Basil's friend who has recently graduated to long trousers, causing a shift in their friendship. He joins Elwood Leaming in a parade with girls, embarrassing himself in front of his aunt and the Van Schellingers.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/ii)

Basil's friend who accompanies him to the gathering and engages in playful scuffles.

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

A friend who avoids Basil and takes Imogene to supper, contributing to Basil's sense of exclusion.

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

Basil's friend and business manager for the play.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/ii)

A cast member who reads Hubert's part after he leaves and tries to boost Basil's morale.

## Links

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