# The General — Short Fiction character guide > The General in Short Fiction by O. Henry. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the general, The general **First appearance:** 0000-lord-oakhurst-s-curse ## Snapshot A sneering, upturned-moustache conspirator whose soft, enormous voice commands a plot to kill the king at midnight mass. ## Who they are He is the huge man in black who presides over the conspirators' table, stroking his moustache while Captain Desrolles pounds for open murder and the countess offers her poet as messenger. His habit of softening violence into courtesy makes him more chilling than the hot-headed captain beside him. He matters because his calm agreement turns a squabbling plot into a plan that will soon reach a guileless boy's garret door. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _professional_ The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with interactions based on duty or hierarchy. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _professional_ The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with interactions based on duty or hierarchy. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _professional_ The General is a commanding officer or professional peer of the narrator, with interactions based on duty or hierarchy. ## In the story ### [The Winner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-winner) Not explicitly named but implied as one of the three cronies; referred to as 'the major' in the excerpt. ### [Solemn Thoughts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/solemn-thoughts) The white-bearded Philadelphian who longs for home. ### [Too Late](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/too-late) General Splasher, father of Inez, leads the rescue but is horrified by the outcome. ### [Rouge Et Noir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/rouge-et-noir) General Pilar, Minister of War, supports Ramon Olivarra and delivers the keys of Casa Morena. ### [A Ghost of a Chance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-ghost-of-a-chance) Mentioned as General Greene, under whom Captain Kinsolving supposedly served. ### [Art and the Bronco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/art-and-the-bronco) Senator Mullens, representing the San Saba country, introduces the bill to purchase the painting. ### [The Whirligig of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-whirligig-of-life) Justice Benaja Widdup, the presiding justice of the peace. ### [The Fourth in Salvador](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-fourth-in-salvador) General Mary Esperanza Dingo, a Salvadorian friend who promises to help celebrate the Fourth but ends up leading a chaotic military skirmish. ### [The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-adventures-of-shamrock-jolnes) Referred to as Major Winfield R. Ellison, a Virginia gentleman traveling with his wife and three daughters. ### [The Emancipation of Billy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-emancipation-of-billy) General Deffenbaugh, the Governor's friend and aide, who assists him on his daily walks and orchestrates the town's reception for the presidential party. ### [One Thousand Dollars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/one-thousand-dollars) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Diamond of Kali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-diamond-of-kali) General Marcellus B. Ludlow, the globetrotter and connoisseur who claims to possess the diamond of Kali and recounts his adventures. ### [The Rathskeller and the Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-rathskeller-and-the-rose) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Church with an Overshot-Wheel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-church-with-an-overshot-wheel) Not directly present; no character with this ID appears in the excerpts. ### [The Making of a New Yorker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-making-of-a-new-yorker) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Girl and the Habit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-girl-and-the-habit) Not directly present; the excerpt does not feature this character. ### [An Adjustment of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/an-adjustment-of-nature) Not present in this chapter. ### [Blind Man's Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/blind-man-s-holiday) Mentioned as a figure in the café; not directly involved in the main plot. ### [The Handbook of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-handbook-of-hymen) Not present in this chapter. ### [Calloway's Code](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/calloway-s-code) Not directly present; the story focuses on the Enterprise staff. ### [Proof of the Pudding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/proof-of-the-pudding) Not present in this chapter. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/ii) Old Jerome, Nevada's uncle, approves the outing and comments on Gilbert's character. ### [No Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/no-story) Not present in this chapter. ### [A Poor Rule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-poor-rule) Not present in this chapter. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/the_general - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters