# Sylvia Tietjens — Some Do Not … character guide > Sylvia Tietjens in Some Do Not … by Ford Madox Ford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sylvia, Sylvia Satterthwaite, Sylvia Tietjens' cousin **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i ## Snapshot Radiantly beautiful, restless wife who abandons Christopher for Perowne, then writes without a syllable of contrition to be taken back. ## Who they are Sylvia moves through the novel as the elegant, humiliating fact of Christopher's marriage — a woman whose infidelity is public and whose return is demanded as a right. Her letter from Brittany, fed-up with Perowne, sets the plot's central pressure: whether a man of Christopher's scruples can be shamed into a life he did not choose. Her beauty and her cruelty are the same instrument, and everyone around the Tietjens marriage is forced to take sides. ## Relationships ### [Valentine Wannop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/valentine_wannop) _rivalry_ Sylvia bitterly resents Valentine as her husband Christopher's emotional attachment and sees her as a rival. ### [Vincent Macmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/vincent_macmaster) _psychological_ Sylvia manipulates Vincent, using her charm and social power to control him and undermine Christopher. ### [Christopher Tietjens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/christopher_tietjens) _family_ Christopher and Sylvia are estranged spouses locked in a toxic marriage of mutual resentment and psychological warfare. ### [Edith Ethel Duchemin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/edith_ethel_duchemin) _rivalry_ Edith Ethel and Sylvia are social rivals, each vying for status and influence within their circle. ### [Lady Claudine Sandbach](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/lady_claudine_sandbach) _social_ Lady Claudine is a social acquaintance of Sylvia, sharing gossip and navigating high society together. ### [Father Consett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/father_consett) _psychological_ Father Consett is Sylvia's confessor, who tries to guide her morally but is often manipulated by her. ### [Mark Tietjens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/mark_tietjens) _family_ Mark is Sylvia's brother-in-law, and he despises her for her cruelty toward Christopher. ### [Valentine Wannop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/valentine_wannop) _rivalry_ Sylvia bitterly resents Valentine as her husband Christopher's emotional attachment and sees her as a rival. ### [Vincent Macmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/vincent_macmaster) _psychological_ Sylvia manipulates Vincent, using her charm and social power to control him and undermine Christopher. ### [Valentine Wannop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/valentine_wannop) _rivalry_ Sylvia bitterly resents Valentine as her husband Christopher's emotional attachment and sees her as a rival. ### [Vincent Macmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/vincent_macmaster) _psychological_ Sylvia manipulates Vincent, using her charm and social power to control him and undermine Christopher. ### [Christopher Tietjens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/christopher_tietjens) _family_ Christopher and Sylvia are estranged spouses locked in a toxic marriage of mutual resentment and psychological warfare. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-i) Tietjens' wife who has left him for another man; mentioned as having called Tietjens immoral. ### [Mrs. Satterthwaite at Lobscheid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Arrives at Lobscheid; discusses her marriage with Father Consett, expressing contempt for Christopher's formality and truthfulness; plans to send a terse telegram. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-iii) Sylvia's letter to Tietjens is discussed; it states she is ready to return and demands her maid Hullo Central be waiting for her. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-iv) Referenced in Tietjens' thoughts about his marriage, his desire to stop scandal, and his preference to be seen as the rip rather than have her seen as a strumpet for the sake of their child. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-vi) Mentioned as Tietjens' wife, called a 'wrong 'un' by Mrs. Wannop, and compared to Duchemin in Tietjens' thoughts. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-vii) Mentioned as a figure of destructive efficiency, contrasted with Valentine's constructive nature. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-ii-i) Reflects on her husband's character, recalls Sir John's proposal, and reveals she wrote to Lord Port Scatho about Valentine Wannop. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-ii-ii) Has been crying and is present during the interview; her letter to Lord Port Scatho about Mrs. Duchemin is a central point of contention. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Glorvina informs her about Christopher's poor military reports; she appears devoted but has not yet told Christopher. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-ii-iv) Mentioned as having many occupations and being unsympathetic to Tietjens' work. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-ii-v) Makes a threatening phone call to Valentine, accusing her of being Christopher's mistress and warning her to stay away. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-ii-vi) Mentioned as bringing the Duke of Rugeley to Macmaster's party; described as a great friend of the Macmasters. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters/sylvia_tietjens - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/some_do_not_se/characters