# The Gentleman from San Francisco — Short Fiction character guide

> The Gentleman from San Francisco in Short Fiction by Ivan Bunin.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0023-the-gentleman-from-san-francisco

## Snapshot

A wealthy, small-statured American traveling in gilded luxury aboard the Atlantis, whose sudden death at a resort exposes the hollowness of his world.

## Who they are

The Gentleman from San Francisco is a rich American aboard the opulent steamer Atlantis, dining in crystal-lit halls while the ocean heaves in black mountains outside. Polished, Mongolian-faced, with gold teeth and a bald head like old ivory, he hastens to dress and rubs his hands in a flush of vital forces, confident in the captain's power over the sea. His wealth and self-satisfaction set the story's early-middle arc in motion, before his fate turns the voyage into a meditation on mortality.

## Relationships

### [Carmela](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/characters/carmela)

_professional_

Carmela serves or attends to the Gentleman from San Francisco, likely as a maid or servant in a hotel or ship setting.

### [Carmela](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/characters/carmela)

_professional_

Carmela serves or attends to the Gentleman from San Francisco, likely as a maid or servant in a hotel or ship setting.

## In the story

### [Short Fiction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/short-fiction)

Central figure in a story about wealth and sudden death.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/iv)

Not present in this chapter.

### [Brethren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/brethren)

Not directly present; the Englishman passenger serves as a colonial oppressor figure.

### [The Grammar of Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/the-grammar-of-love)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Gentleman from San Francisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/the-gentleman-from-san-francisco)

The protagonist, a wealthy 58-year-old American who has worked hard all his life and is now traveling for pleasure with his family.

### [The Gentleman from San Francisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/the-gentleman-from-san-francisco)

He is portrayed as meticulous about his appearance, but feels a sense of dread and physical discomfort while dressing.

### [Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/son)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Dreams of Chang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/the-dreams-of-chang)

Referred to as 'the captain' throughout; Chang's master who dies in the garret.

### [Gautami](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/chapters/gautami)

Not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/characters/the_gentleman_from_san_francisco
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_30_se/characters