Character guide

Dink Stover

major

Also known as Stover, Hugh Le Baron, Le Baron, Still Stover, IV Stover, VI Stover, Mr. John Humperdink Stover, Twice Stover

Stover enters Yale hungry for recognition, thrilled by the campus swarm and already whispering to himself that he will be captain. Around him, Le Baron's easy possession of his career and Hunter's cool, measuring handshake teach him that popularity is a currency with rules he doesn't yet understand. His restless need to be liked and his instinct to test himself against the hardest men drive the book's central question: what kind of success is worth having.

Tom Regan

supporting

Also known as Regan, Tommy

Regan comes from nothing and believes in nothing but independence, clean government, and hard fighters, and he tells Stover plainly that he must get absolute hold of himself before he can do anything. He won't let the University carry him, insisting he needs the hardest things to come up against, and he plans to work his way into South Middle and the Co-op rather than take the easier path. His fierce self-reliance sharpens Stover's sense of what character costs.

Dopey McNab

supporting

Also known as McNab, Only McNab, Mr. McNab

McNab greets Stover on the train with mock-sophisticated chatter and a chain to put on, then lounges through the house introductions with his legs in the air, declaring he's for a good time, short but a lulu. Hunter predicts he'll be heeling the Record and hiring a tutor within a month, and the joke is that everyone, including McNab, half believes it. He gives the class its comic counterweight to ambition, a reminder of how easily college can slide into pleasure.

Joe Hungerford

supporting

Also known as Hungerford, Joe

Hungerford moves through the class with the confidence of a man whose offers of rooms and friendship are never refused, yet he is quietly competing with Jim Hunter for Jean Story and can't tell why she holds something back. He is comfortably, satisfactorily in love, and the emotion fills a sentimental want in his nature, but her dignity and reserve unsettle him. His rivalry with Hunter and his bafflement at Jean's doubt make him a mirror for Stover's own struggles with wanting what is difficult to attain.

Sidney Brockhurst

supporting

Also known as Brockhurst, Brocky

Brockhurst states a thing in such a slap-bang way, with no compromise, that it hits like a blow, and his insistence that the society system smothers men and separates them from the class provokes real argument. Others concede he generally gets to the point even when they think he's wrong, and his challenge to bring the college back to the campus becomes a test of whether the individual or the system shapes a Yale man. He gives the novel its most articulate voice of dissent.

Tough McCarthy

supporting

Also known as McCarthy, III Tough McCarthy

McCarthy greets Stover with a war-cry and a wrestling match that threatens the furniture, then proudly shows off the loot of the combined McCarthy family dug out of a circus trunk. His father's death during the summer ends his college course and sends him into the working world, a loss Stover feels keenly on his return. McCarthy's warmth and his abrupt removal from the story measure how quickly Yale's bright, boyish world can close over a man.

Bob Story

supporting

Also known as Story, Bob

Bob Story is the loyal friend who thunders on Dink's door before chapel to argue one last time for compromise, then leaves defeated but still a friend.

Jim Hunter

supporting

Also known as Hunter, Jimmy

Jim Hunter is the society man and rival who greets Stover with icy politeness at the eating-joint, his scarlet-cheeked silence nearly sparking a brawl.

Jean Story

supporting

Also known as Jean, Miss Jean

Jean Story is Bob's sister, whose glance across the crowd and brief note of loyalty make her the quiet center of Stover's hardest choices.

Ray Gimbel

supporting

Also known as Gimbel

Ray Gimbel is the wealthy, socially ambitious classmate whose table at Commons becomes a refuge when Stover's society break leaves him an outsider.

Chris Schley

minor

Also known as Schley, little Schley

A younger student, often looked up to by others.

Denny Fisher

minor

Also known as Fisher

A student and friend, part of the social scene.

Tompkins

minor

A student known for his eccentricities.

Buck Waters

minor

Also known as Buck, Waters

A student athlete, part of the football team.

Swazey

minor

A student known for his humorous antics.

Tom Kelly

minor

Also known as Kelly

A student and friend, often in the background.

Hugh Reynolds

minor

Also known as Reynolds

A student known for his academic interests.

Wookey

minor

Also known as little Wookey, Mr. Wookey

A younger student, often teased by others.

Ricketts

minor

Also known as Ricky Ricketts

A student known for his small stature and energy.

Mrs. Story

minor

Bob and Jean Story's mother, a social figure.

Captain Dana

minor

Also known as Dana, Poor Dana

A former student and mentor figure to Stover.

Troutman

minor

A student known for his athletic abilities.

Nathaniel Pike

minor

Also known as Pike, Nat

A student from a humble background, friend of Stover.

George

minor

A student, part of the general social circle.

Tommy Bain

minor

Also known as Bain

A student, often mentioned in passing.

Mr. Rivers

minor

Also known as Rivers

A faculty member or older figure.

Captain Dudley

minor

Also known as Dudley, bully Dudley

A former student known for his bullying nature.

Charley De Soto

minor

Also known as De Soto, Charlie de Soto

A student known for his charm and social skills.

The Judge

minor

Also known as Judge Story

Jean and Bob Story's father, a respected figure.

Billy Brown

minor

Also known as Bill, Billy, Brown, Bud Brown

A student known for his athleticism.

Wiggy

minor

Also known as Wiggin

A student known for his quirky personality.

Rogers

minor

A student, part of the background cast.

Bangs

minor

A student, occasionally mentioned.

Stone

minor

A student, part of the social fabric.

Fanny Le Roy

minor

Also known as Miss Fanny Le Roy

A socialite, part of the New Haven scene.

The Captain

minor

A ship captain or authority figure, briefly encountered.

The Doctor

minor

Also known as Dr. Burke

A physician, consulted for health matters.

Keys

minor

A student, known for his role in secret societies.

Joe Lake

minor

Also known as Lake

A student, occasionally mentioned in social contexts.

Saunders

minor

A student, part of the background.

Harden

minor

Also known as Suddenly Harden

A student, briefly mentioned.

Miss Sparkes

minor

Also known as Sparkes

A female acquaintance, part of social events.

Allison

minor

A student, mentioned in passing.

Muriel Stacey

minor

Also known as Muriel

A young woman, briefly part of the story.

Miss Anita Laurence

minor

Also known as Anita

A socialite, encountered at events.

De Gollyer

minor

Also known as Gollyer

A student, mentioned in a list of names.

Logan

minor

A student, briefly referenced.

Teddy Robinson

minor

Also known as Robinson

A student, part of the background.

Garry Cockerell

minor

Also known as Cockerell

A student, mentioned in social contexts.

Bannerman

minor

A student, briefly noted.

Dick Farquahar

minor

Also known as Farquahar

A student, mentioned in passing.

Miss Raymond

minor

A female character, briefly encountered.

Miss Story

minor

Possibly a relative of the Story family.

Miss Kelly

minor

A female acquaintance, briefly mentioned.

Harvey

minor

A student, mentioned in a list.

Benny

minor

A student, briefly referenced.