# Januarius Jones — Soldiers’ Pay character guide > Januarius Jones in Soldiers’ Pay by William Faulkner. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Jones, Mr. Jones, X Januarius Jones **First appearance:** 0006-iv ## Snapshot A fat, yellow-eyed former Latin instructor who frightens children and unsettles women, Jones trades on other people's secrets and calls it conversation. ## Who they are Jones drifts through the Saunders household as a guest nobody quite invited, fixing his fathomless yellow stare on Cecily until she feels her blood go cold, then asking when she is to be married. He admits that frightening people is sometimes the only way to get what he wants from them, and Cecily names the practice plainly: blackmail. His obsession with Emmy later curdles into something closer to mathematics than desire, making him the novel's most patient and most predatory observer of other people's hungers. ## Relationships ### [Emmy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/emmy) _psychological_ Emmy is obsessively devoted to Januarius Jones, who manipulates her affections for his own amusement. ### [George Farr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/george_farr) _rivalry_ George Farr and Januarius Jones are antagonistic rivals, often clashing over Cecily Saunders. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _psychological_ Cecily Saunders is both fascinated and repelled by Januarius Jones's manipulative attention. ### [Joe Gilligan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/joe_gilligan) _rivalry_ Januarius Jones and Joe Gilligan are hostile rivals, with Gilligan distrusting Jones's motives. ### [Margaret Powers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/margaret_powers) _psychological_ Januarius Jones attempts to psychologically manipulate Margaret Powers, who resists his advances. ### [Margaret Powers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/margaret_powers) _psychological_ Januarius Jones attempts to psychologically manipulate Margaret Powers, who resists his advances. ### [Emmy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/emmy) _psychological_ Emmy is obsessively devoted to Januarius Jones, who manipulates her affections for his own amusement. ### [Emmy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/emmy) _psychological_ Emmy is obsessively devoted to Januarius Jones, who manipulates her affections for his own amusement. ### [George Farr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/george_farr) _rivalry_ George Farr and Januarius Jones are antagonistic rivals, often clashing over Cecily Saunders. ### [Joe Gilligan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/joe_gilligan) _rivalry_ Januarius Jones and Joe Gilligan are hostile rivals, with Gilligan distrusting Jones's motives. ### [George Farr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/george_farr) _rivalry_ George Farr and Januarius Jones are antagonistic rivals, often clashing over Cecily Saunders. ### [Cecily Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/cecily_saunders) _psychological_ Cecily Saunders is both fascinated and repelled by Januarius Jones's manipulative attention. ## In the story ### [Soldiers' Pay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/soldiers-pay) A presence in the social dynamics, observing the tensions around Donald's return. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) Visits the rector, discusses anarchism and the human condition, and reluctantly agrees to stay for lunch after getting his trouser leg wet. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Engages in a manipulative and lustful flirtation with Cecily Saunders; feels shame and anger at her indifference; uses boldness as a tactic. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Watches the scene with yellow, unwinking eyes, mutters a shocking phrase, and is later seen at the window as Cecily drives off with George. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Watches Cecily leave, lies to the rector about her whereabouts, attempts to corner Cecily, and later observes Donald's arrival. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/x) Mistaken for Donald by Cecily; flirts with Emmy and is rebuffed; inquires about Donald's health. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xi) Dances with Cecily, manipulates her by revealing Donald and Margaret's presence, then escorts her outside. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xii) Persistently attaches himself to Cecily, following her closely and asserting his claim to a dance. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/xiii) Drags Cecily into the shadows, confronts her about kissing him, and mocks her devotion to Donald. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) Observed by Cecily as a nemesis; his silent presence at the drugstore alarms her. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/ii) Lunches with the Saunders family, manipulates Cecily with veiled threats, and displays a predatory, feline nature. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Appears briefly at dawn, sleeping on the ground, and exchanges a few words with George before departing. ### [Eleven O’Clock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/eleven-o-clock) Also lurking outside Cecily's house; fights George Farr, then sits with him through the night, leaving at dawn. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iii) Lazy and predatory, he attempts to seduce Margaret and reveals his cynical worldview. ### [Spring Negotiations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Nursing a bruised hand after Emmy slammed a door on it; makes cynical comments about Donald's engagements. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/iv) Obsessively pursues Emmy, his fixation becoming paranoid and mathematical; he skulks around the rectory and is flushed out by the rector. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vii) Chases Emmy, trades barbs with Gilligan and Mrs. Mahon, and flees into the garden after a scuffle. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/i) Lurks across the street, then enters the deserted Mahon house catlike; finds Emmy in the kitchen and leads her upstairs. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/v) Mentioned in conversation between Margaret and Gilligan; Gilligan considers Jones 'lucky' for his persistence despite failures. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/vi) Jones is caught climbing toward Emmy's window, fights with Gilligan, and later wanders alone, musing on youth and mortality. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/chapters/viii) Jones flees from Gilligan's attempted assault in the garden. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters/januarius_jones - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/soldiers_pay_se/characters