# Arthur Constant — The Big Bow Mystery character guide

> Arthur Constant in The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Arthur Constant, Mr. Constant, Constant

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

A white-handed scholar who lodges among Bow's working men, eats their food, blacks his own boots, and rises early to rally striking tram-men.

## Who they are

Arthur Constant, B.A., occupies the upstairs rooms at 11 Glover Street, where his landlady cannot reconcile his gentleman's hands with his appetite for an artisan's life. He is a light sleeper and a saintly one, so eager to serve the tram-men that he asks to be woken at seven for their meeting. His earnest slumming puzzles Mrs. Drabdump, who suspects parliamentary ambition, and his introduction through Tom Mortlake quietly ties the lodger to the labor world the mystery will dissect.

## Relationships

### [Mrs. Drabdump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/mrs_drabdump)

_professional_

Mrs. Drabdump is Arthur Constant's landlady, providing him lodging and basic domestic services.

### [Jessie Dymond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/jessie_dymond)

_romantic_

Arthur Constant and Jessie Dymond are secretly in love, planning to marry despite social obstacles.

### [Tom Mortlake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/tom_mortlake)

_friendship_

Arthur and Tom are friendly acquaintances, with Tom unaware of Arthur's secret romance with his sister.

### [Edward Wimp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/edward_wimp)

_professional_

Wimp investigates Arthur Constant as a potential victim and later as a suspect, maintaining a formal detective-subject dynamic.

### [Edward Wimp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/edward_wimp)

_professional_

Wimp investigates Arthur Constant as a potential victim and later as a suspect, maintaining a formal detective-subject dynamic.

### [Mrs. Drabdump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/mrs_drabdump)

_professional_

Mrs. Drabdump is Arthur Constant's landlady, providing him lodging and basic domestic services.

### [Tom Mortlake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/tom_mortlake)

_friendship_

Arthur and Tom are friendly acquaintances, with Tom unaware of Arthur's secret romance with his sister.

## In the story

### [The Big Bow Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/the-big-bow-mystery)

The victim, found dead in his locked room under mysterious circumstances.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/i)

The lodger who fails to answer his door; presumed dead by Mrs. Drabdump.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/ii)

The deceased; described as a cheerful, soft-hearted young idealist; his body found with throat cut in a locked room.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/iii)

Deceased; described through witness testimony as a brilliant, selfless idealist, though a letter reveals a rare moment of pessimism.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/iv)

The victim; his character is discussed in Grodman's letter and a passage from his last letter to Lucy Brent is quoted, showing his hopeful outlook on his East End work.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as the victim and as the subject of Mortlake's earlier criticism.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/xii)

The victim; Grodman describes their friendship and the circumstances leading to his murder.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters/arthur_constant
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/characters