# Arthur Henty — The Black Opal character guide

> Arthur Henty in The Black Opal by Katharine Susannah Prichard.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Henty, Art, Mrs. Arthur Henty, old Henty

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i

## Who they are

A young man of passionate devotion whose love for Sophie becomes an all-consuming desperation, he stands at the edge of a choice no one around him foresees.

## Relationships

### [Sophie Rouminof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/sophie_rouminof)

_friendship_

Arthur Henty is a loyal and supportive friend to Sophie, often offering her guidance and companionship.

### [Michael Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/michael_brady)

_friendship_

Arthur Henty and Michael Brady share a respectful friendship, occasionally collaborating on matters.

### [Sophie Rouminof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/sophie_rouminof)

_friendship_

Arthur Henty is a loyal and supportive friend to Sophie, often offering her guidance and companionship.

### [Sophie Rouminof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/sophie_rouminof)

_friendship_

Arthur Henty is a loyal and supportive friend to Sophie, often offering her guidance and companionship.

### [Michael Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/michael_brady)

_friendship_

Arthur Henty and Michael Brady share a respectful friendship, occasionally collaborating on matters.

### [Michael Brady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/michael_brady)

_friendship_

Arthur Henty and Michael Brady share a respectful friendship, occasionally collaborating on matters.

## In the story

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

Arthur Henty is the only son of old Henty of Warria Station, a tall, slightly-built young man in riding clothes, who is shy and awkward around Sophie.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-xii)

Seen walking with Sophie; known to Fallen Star folk; son of James Henty of Warria station.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-xiii)

Meets Sophie secretly on the road and shares a tender, unspoken connection with her. He knocks down Bully Bryant after Bully kisses Sophie, leading to a potential fight.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-i-xv)

Wishes Sophie were not coming to the ball, reflects on his feelings for her through the poem 'La Belle Dame sans Merci,' and resolves to end their relationship.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-viii)

Seen briefly by Sophie while driving cattle; she feels no lingering attachment.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-ix)

Mentioned as part of the Warria party coming to the ball; Sophie recalls him from the earlier Warria ball.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-x)

Drunk and glowering, he dances with Sophie with desperate intensity, leading her outside for a passionate embrace that triggers a fight with Potch.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-xi)

Recalled in Sophie's memory of the Warria ball and the strange sensation of being the only alive person in the room.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-xii)

Referenced as the object of Sophie's love and the target of Potch's violent attack at the ball.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii)

Visits Sophie in a desperate, raging state, begging her to leave with him; after her refusal, he rides away and shoots himself in the tank paddock.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/chapters/part-ii-xix)

His funeral and suicide dominate the chapter; the community reflects on his life, his troubled marriage, and his ambiguous place between station and ridge society.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters/arthur_henty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_opal_se/characters