Stover at Yale · Character

Sidney Brockhurst

A sharp-tongued critic of Yale's society system, Brockhurst argues that the college has forgotten the campus and wrapped its best men in cotton.

supporting

Also known as Brockhurst, Brocky

First appearance: iii

As a supporting figure in Stover at Yale, Sidney Brockhurst is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Solitary and self-conscious, from Hill School, trying for the Lit; Stover finds him interesting.

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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.

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See Sidney Brockhurst in iii

Character Web

26 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Stover's Inner Circle
Social and Romantic Connections
Protagonist

+21 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Stover reaches his emotional and psychological peak in a violent nervous c…

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Relationships

Dink Stover
rivalry · negative
Sidney Brockhurst is a competitive rival of Dink Stover, often clashing over social… How this plays out →
Dink Stover
rivalry · negative
Sidney Brockhurst is a competitive rival of Dink Stover, often clashing over social… How this plays out →
Dink Stover
rivalry · negative
Sidney Brockhurst is a competitive rival of Dink Stover, often clashing over social… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

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

See Sidney Brockhurst in iii

In the story

Sidney Brockhurst appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

VII
Solitary and self-conscious, from Hill School, trying for the Lit; Stover finds him interesting.
XI
Mentioned as a possible future chairman of the Lit, Stover intends to call on him but postpones.
XIII
Mentioned by Story as a talented writer for the Lit who keeps to himself and is hard to know.
XVI
Engages Stover in a provocative conversation about individuality, loafing, and the 'colossal mumbo-jumbo' of society secrecy.
XVII
Receives Stover's apology; is described as having the brains of the group but being a spectator.
XXIII
Engages in a discussion about the social function of colleges, coining the phrase 'social clearing house'; departs after a witty remark.
XXIV
Loses Lit Board chairmanship to Wiggin, goes on a walk with Stover, and delivers a critique of secret societies as idol worship and mental subjection.
XXVII
Misses out on tapping; joins Stover and Hungerford afterward; voices a visionary dream for Yale's future.

Chapter companion notes

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See Sidney Brockhurst in iii

See Sidney Brockhurst in VII