Short Fiction · Character

Mr. Elliott

An older man with money on his mind and a secondhand Trinidad Twelve waiting, Mr. Elliott listens to a synopsis when a full reading would cost him a bargain.

supporting

Also known as Elliott

First appearance: my roomy

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Mr. Elliott is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

New player with incredible hitting but terrible fielding; mysterious and broke.

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Mr. Elliott is the practical man in the room when Hazlett pitches his Irish melodrama — the one who'd rather hear the main idea than sit through three acts because a car is being held for him until half-past three. He's avaricious in a small, recognizable way, and his impatience with the story's conventions mirrors the reader's own awareness of how formulaic the plot is. His presence turns the pitch meeting into a comedy of commerce, where art is measured against the clock and the price of a used automobile.

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See Mr. Elliott in my roomy

Character Web

21 connections

A slice of how Mr. Elliott sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Baseball and Social Circles

+16 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak of the crowd’s self-deception, where their…

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Relationships

John Knowles
professional · ambivalent
John Knowles and Mr. How this plays out →
John Knowles
professional · ambivalent
John Knowles and Mr. How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Elliott in my roomy

In the story

Mr. Elliott appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
New player with incredible hitting but terrible fielding; mysterious and broke.
II
Has disruptive habits like running water all night and shaving in the middle of the night, scaring his roommates.
Chapter III
The narrator's roommate, a skilled hitter who shaves at night and is proud of his abilities.
IV
Elliott's singing disrupts the hotel, but his hitting prowess and confidence keep him on the team. He reveals his plan to marry if he gets five hundred dollars.
V
Elliott is the central figure in this chapter, known for his singing and poker-playing antics. He dreams of marrying and performing on the vaudeville circuit, but his behavior puts his position on the team at risk.
VI
Elliott's reckless play and elevator stunt cause chaos and nearly get the team expelled from the hotel.
VII
The roommate who is a powerful hitter but behaves erratically; he tears up a letter from his girlfriend, tries to join New York, and is sold to Atlanta.
VIII
Elliott is the subject of the chapter; his tragic fate is revealed through a letter and his own note.
VI: Syracuse to Hudson 183.2
The father, who drives and makes sarcastic comments throughout the trip.
III: Lady Perkins
Mentioned as the manager of the hotel.
XV: Sport Writer on The Rabies
The sporting editor, nicknamed 'Oatmeal Haney' due to his obsession with oatmeal.
XIX: A Soft Job
The narrator, now a ticket agent, applies his imaginative methods to his new job.
XXV: Even Judge Ogle Smiled
The narrator of the chapter, recounting the trial and the luncheon.
Sun Cured
The narrator, a thirty-eight-year-old insurance man from Brooklyn, who is returning from a Florida vacation and feels rejuvenated.

Chapter companion notes

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