# Kirk Winfield — The Coming of Bill character guide > Kirk Winfield in The Coming of Bill by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Winfield, Mr. Kirk Winfield, Kirk, Winfield **First appearance:** 0001-i-a-pawn-of-fate ## Snapshot A big, easygoing artist whose quiet studio life is upended when a masterful stranger and her niece walk in and rearrange his future. ## Who they are Kirk Winfield fills his own doorway — boyish, friendly, magnificently fit — and paints in a Greenwich Village studio kept in order by his accident-prone man George Pennicut. He is unhurried and unambitious, content to let the days drift, which makes him an easy mark for stronger wills and a puzzle to the Bannister family's expectations. His courtship of Ruth Bannister turns a bohemian idler into a man with something to lose, and the collision between his world and hers drives the novel's central struggle. ## Relationships ### [Ruth Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_bannister) _romantic_ Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together. ### [Bailey Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/bailey_bannister) _rivalry_ Bailey Bannister opposes Kirk's marriage to Ruth, viewing him as an unsuitable, poor suitor and actively working against him. ### [Steve Dingle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/steve_dingle) _friendship_ Steve Dingle is Kirk's loyal, rough-edged friend and ally, often helping him in practical matters and offering comic relief. ### [Twentieth-Century Willie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/twentieth_century_willie) _friendship_ Twentieth-Century Willie is a quirky, loyal friend of Kirk's, often involved in his adventures and schemes. ### [Percy Shanklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/percy_shanklyn) _rivalry_ Percy Shanklyn is a pretentious rival for Ruth's affection, creating tension and competition with Kirk. ### [Mamie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/mamie) _friendship_ Kirk and Mamie are friendly acquaintances, connected through their mutual relationships with Steve Dingle and Ruth. ### [Mr. Penway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/mr_penway) _professional_ Mr. Penway interacts with Kirk as part of his service to Mrs. Porter, maintaining a polite, helpful demeanor. ### [Aunt Lora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/aunt_lora) _family_ Aunt Lora is Kirk's relative, likely a maternal figure who cares for him and offers advice. ### [George Pennicut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/george_pennicut) _friendship_ George Pennicut is a friend or associate of Kirk, involved in his social or business circles. ### [Ruth Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_bannister) _romantic_ Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together. ### [Ruth Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/ruth_bannister) _romantic_ Kirk and Ruth are the central romantic couple, deeply in love and navigating family opposition and personal challenges together. ### [Steve Dingle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/steve_dingle) _friendship_ Steve Dingle is Kirk's loyal, rough-edged friend and ally, often helping him in practical matters and offering comic relief. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-i) The protagonist, a wealthy young man who falls in love with Ruth Bannister. ### [I: A Pawn of Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/i-a-pawn-of-fate) An artist with a private income; he meets Mrs. Porter after she injures his servant, and she questions him about his health and heredity. ### [III: The Mates Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iii-the-mates-meet) A wealthy, amiable young man who enjoys a bohemian lifestyle. His routine is disrupted by George Pennicut's injury, leading to introspection and a sudden, intense attraction to Ruth Bannister. ### [IV: Troubled Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-troubled-waters) Kirk is courting Ruth Bannister, causing changes in his behavior that puzzle his friends. He is irritable and distracted, and his secret meetings with Ruth are discovered by Percy Shanklyn. ### [Wherein Opposites Agree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-wherein-opposites-agree) Sparring with Steve Dingle; unaware of Bailey's impending visit. ### [VI: Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-breaking-the-news) Kirk is discussed as Ruth's love interest and new husband, though he does not appear in person. ### [VII: Sufficient Unto Themselves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vii-sufficient-unto-themselves) Now deeply absorbed in marriage, he has abandoned his old friends and struggles with Ruth's control over his work and social life. ### [VIII: Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/viii-suspense) Overwhelmed by fear and self-doubt during Ruth's labor, he paces the studio and struggles with his helplessness. ### [IX: The White Hope Is Turned Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ix-the-white-hope-is-turned-down) Overwhelmed by paternal pride, he abandons his painting and dreams of William's combined career as ambassador, champion boxer, and painter. ### [X: An Interlude of Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/x-an-interlude-of-peace) Enjoys the peaceful domestic life with Ruth and William, expresses gratitude and wariness toward Aunt Lora. ### [XI: Stung to Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xi-stung-to-action) Faces financial ruin after a stock failure, realizes his artistic neglect, and considers Hank's gold mining offer. ### [XII: A Climax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-a-climax) Struggles with his artistic confidence and is devastated by Bailey's criticism, leading him to consider Hank's offer. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/book-ii) William's father, who reluctantly allows Lora to oversee his son's upbringing. ### [I: Empty-Handed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/i-empty-handed) Returns from South America empty-handed, grieving Hank's death, and feeling like a failed artist. ### [II: An Unknown Path](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/ii-an-unknown-path) Feels like a stranger in a strange world, troubled by the changes wealth has brought and determined to find purpose through painting. ### [IV: The Widening Gap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/iv-the-widening-gap) Feels increasingly estranged from Ruth and disillusioned by the social whirlwind of their new life. ### [V: The Real Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/v-the-real-thing) Sits gloomily in the nursery, watching his son play; he feels like a parolee under Lora's rules and has come to realize Ruth's true motives. ### [VI: The Outcasts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vi-the-outcasts) Resumes painting under Penway's tutelage, feeling apathetic toward Ruth and focusing on his art. ### [VII: Cutting the Tangled Knot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/vii-cutting-the-tangled-knot) Tries to bridge the gap with Ruth by suggesting a family outing, but is rebuffed and becomes frustrated. ### [VIII: Steve to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/viii-steve-to-the-rescue) Has left the house and is staying at the studio, working hard after the crisis. ### [X: Accepting the Gifts of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/x-accepting-the-gifts-of-the-gods) Returns from Long Beach to find Mamie waiting; reads Steve's telegram and decides to go to Connecticut. ### [Mr. Penway on the Grill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xi-mr-penway-on-the-grill) Flees to Connecticut with Mamie; his actions are the subject of the chapter's investigation. ### [Dolls with Souls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xii-dolls-with-souls) Though not present, Kirk looms large in Ruth's thoughts. She realizes she has lost him and hopes to return to him now that the financial barrier is gone. ### [Pastures New](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xiii-pastures-new) Steve plans to send him a telegram about the expedition. ### [XIV: The Sixty-First Street Cyclone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xiv-the-sixty-first-street-cyclone) Drives to the shack with Mamie, feeling exhilarated about having his son to himself, though troubled by thoughts of Ruth. ### [Mrs. Porter's Waterloo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xv-mrs-porter-s-waterloo) Confronted by Mrs. Porter; remains silent and focused on Ruth, ultimately reconciled with her. ### [XVI: The White-Hope Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/chapters/xvi-the-white-hope-link) Reflects on the removal of Lora Delane Porter and the loss of John Bannister's money as a liberation; feels grateful and resolute about the future with his family. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters/kirk_winfield - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_coming_of_bill_se/characters