# Ephraim Waite — Short Fiction character guide

> Ephraim Waite in Short Fiction by H. P. Lovecraft.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Waite, Ephraim, old Ephraim

**First appearance:** 0072-the-thing-on-the-doorstep

## Snapshot

An Arkham wizard whose will outlasted his body, and whose daughter inherited both his craft and his hunger to keep living.

## Who they are

Old Ephraim Waite was feared in Arkham for forbidden studies and for a death that never quite convinced anyone. His daughter Asenath carries his look and his arts, and his shadow hangs over her marriage to Edward Derby like a debt coming due. He matters because his refusal to die sets the terms of the story's central horror: identity as something that can be stolen, traded, and worn.

## In the story

### [The Thing on the Doorstep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/the-thing-on-the-doorstep)

The deceased father of Asenath, a wizard who continues to inhabit her body and seeks to transfer his consciousness into Edward.

### [The Meeting of Edward Derby and Asenath Waite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/2)

Asenath's deceased father, a reputed magical student who died insane under queer circumstances.

### [The Unseen Exchange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/3)

Mentioned in connection with doubts about whether he is truly dead, and as a possible source of the occult knowledge used by Asenath.

### [The Possession of Edward Derby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/4)

Asenath's father, a deceased magician whose secret name and formula for body-swapping are referenced by Derby.

### [The Struggle for Identity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/5)

His spirit is said to inhabit Asenath's body, having swapped forms with her before his death.

### [Chapter 6](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/6)

Mentioned as having the same blazing vision as Asenath and the transformed Edward.

### [Chapter 7](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/7)

Asenath's father, implied to be part of the same soul-transference legacy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/characters/ephraim_waite
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/characters