# Kennedy — The Head of Kay’s character guide > Kennedy in The Head of Kay’s by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** XII Kennedy **First appearance:** 0000-i-mainly-about-fenn ## Snapshot Kay's put-upon Head, holding the house together while his housemaster bombards him with absurd complaints and his best ally refuses to speak to him. ## Who they are Kennedy is the conscientious Head of Kay's, the one man standing between the house and Mr. Kay's relentless keyhole raids, and he bears it with a weary, painstaking patience. His isolation is the ache of the early book: Fenn won't back him, Kay rags him weekly, and he can only vent by picking the housemaster to pieces in Fenn's study once the truce is made. His stubborn hope that Kay's might yet win a cup makes him the story's quiet spine. ## Relationships ### [Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/fenn) _rivalry_ Fenn and Kennedy are intense rivals, with Fenn constantly undermining Kennedy's authority as head of Kay's house. ### [Jimmy Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/jimmy_silver) _friendship_ Jimmy Silver is Kennedy's loyal friend and ally, often supporting him against Fenn's schemes. ### [Walton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/walton) _friendship_ Kennedy and Walton are close friends and fellow prefects, working together to manage the house. ### [Blackburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/blackburn) _friendship_ Blackburn is a friend and supporter of Kennedy, though less central than Silver or Walton. ### [Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/wren) _social_ Kennedy and Wren are fellow students with minimal direct interaction, mostly through house dynamics. ### [Spencer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/spencer) _social_ Kennedy and Spencer are acquaintances within the school, with no strong bond or conflict. ### [MacPherson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/macpherson) _social_ Kennedy and MacPherson are fellow students with occasional interactions but no deep relationship. ### [Jimmy Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/jimmy_silver) _friendship_ Jimmy Silver is Kennedy's loyal friend and ally, often supporting him against Fenn's schemes. ### [Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/fenn) _rivalry_ Fenn and Kennedy are intense rivals, with Fenn constantly undermining Kennedy's authority as head of Kay's house. ### [Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/fenn) _rivalry_ Fenn and Kennedy are intense rivals, with Fenn constantly undermining Kennedy's authority as head of Kay's house. ### [Jimmy Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/jimmy_silver) _friendship_ Jimmy Silver is Kennedy's loyal friend and ally, often supporting him against Fenn's schemes. ### [Walton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/walton) _friendship_ Kennedy and Walton are close friends and fellow prefects, working together to manage the house. ## In the story ### [Mainly About Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/i-mainly-about-fenn) Second prefect at Blackburn's, solid and persistent cricketer who managed to bowl Fenn out after patient effort; shows concern for Fenn's wellbeing. ### [An Evening at Kay's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/ii-an-evening-at-kay-s) Feels miserable for Fenn; defends himself against Mr. Kay by asserting his own housemaster is Mr. Blackburn. ### [III: The Final House-Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/iii-the-final-house-match) Bowls superbly for Blackburn's, taking key wickets including Walton and the final batsman, maintaining composure under pressure. ### [Harmony and Discord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/iv-harmony-and-discord) Witnesses the post-match fight, expresses concern, explains Fenn's absence to Morrell, and reacts with shock to Fenn's concert encore. ### [Camp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/v-camp) Observes Kay's house members at camp and discusses ragging with Jimmy Silver. ### [VI: The Raid on the Guard Tent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/vi-the-raid-on-the-guard-tent) Experiences his first day as tent-orderly, fetching rations and washing up; later bathes with Jimmy Silver and observes Walton and Perry smoking. ### [A Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/vii-a-clue) Investigates the guard tent raid, interviews the sentry Jones, and confronts Walton about the scratch on his cheek. ### [VIII: A Night Adventure: The Dethronement of Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/viii-a-night-adventure-the-dethronement-of-fenn) Returns to Eckleton, unpacks his study, and learns he is being transferred to Kay's house. ### [The Sensations of an Exile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/ix-the-sensations-of-an-exile) Transferred to Kay's as head of house; feels exiled and melancholy. ### [Further Experiences of an Exile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/x-further-experiences-of-an-exile) Newly appointed head of Kay's, struggles with the hostility of the house and the rift with Fenn. ### [The Senior Dayroom Opens Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xi-the-senior-dayroom-opens-fire) Head of Kay's house, facing opposition from seniors; arranges football match and is frustrated by team's no-show. ### [XII: Kennedy Interviews Walton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xii-kennedy-interviews-walton) Interviews MacPherson and Walton, arranges a boxing match to assert authority. ### [The Fight in the Dormitory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xiii-the-fight-in-the-dormitory) Fights Walton to reassert authority; wins despite a foul and head injury. ### [XIV: Fenn Receives a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xiv-fenn-receives-a-letter) Takes charge of Kay's, forces the team to play, and begins the difficult task of reforming the house. ### [What Happened to Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xvi-what-happened-to-fenn) Kennedy is discussed by Mr. Kay and Mr. Mulholland. Mr. Kay criticizes him as lacking ability and allowing disturbances among juniors, while Mr. Mulholland defends him, suggesting that Kay's expectations are unrealistic. ### [A Vain Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xviii-a-vain-quest) Visits Jimmy Silver's study, exchanges polite but strained words with Fenn. ### [The Guile of Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xix-the-guile-of-wren) Spots Wren at Rose's; punishes him and becomes suspicious of Fenn's actions. ### [Jimmy the Peacemaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xx-jimmy-the-peacemaker) Reluctantly attends Jimmy's tea party, confronts Fenn about the fags, and eventually apologizes. ### [In Which an Episode Is Closed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxi-in-which-an-episode-is-closed) Kennedy is initially unaware of Fenn's trouble, later retrieves his watch from the headmaster, and explains the burglary ring's capture to Fenn. ### [Kay's Changes Its Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxii-kay-s-changes-its-name) Continues as head of house, now under Mr. Dencroft; works with Fenn to improve house spirit and sports. ### [The House-Matches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxiii-the-house-matches) Captain of Dencroft's house team; tactfully motivates the team and arranges practice matches to build skill and confidence. ### [The Sports](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxiv-the-sports) Key runner for Dencroft's; wins second place in the long run to secure the cup. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/kennedy - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters