# The Whateleys — Short Fiction character guide

> The Whateleys in Short Fiction by H. P. Lovecraft.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the decadent Whateleys, witch Whateleys, Whateleys

**First appearance:** 0051-the-dunwich-horror

## Who they are

The degenerate family of Dunwich involved in dark magic.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as one of the old families that still send eldest sons to Harvard and Miskatonic, though they seldom return to their moldering gambrel roofs.

### [The Birth and Early Years of Wilbur Whateley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/ii)

Decadent family; Old Whateley is half-insane and rumored to practice black magic; Lavinia's mother died violently when Lavinia was twelve.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/iii)

The family as a whole is associated with black magic, strange books, and the sealed upper story; they receive visitors with ill-concealed distaste.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/iv)

The family continues its queer ways, with May Eve and All-Hallow orgies, and strange doings at the farmhouse.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_26_se/chapters/vii)

Decayed and undecayed Whateleys of the upper Miskatonic valley; involved in litigations over Wilbur's estate.

## Links

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