# Jerome Willing — The Homemaker character guide

> Jerome Willing in The Homemaker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Willing, Jerome

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

## Snapshot

The proprietor of Willing's store, a comfortable man whose irritation at Lester Knapp's impractical kindness masks a deeper unease about his own values.

## Who they are

Jerome Willing prides himself on discipline and results, and Lester Knapp has always rubbed him the wrong way, shielding erring delivery boys, interfering with the natural order of things. When he hears that the crippled Knapp is managing at home and his wife is thriving at the store, Willing's annoyance curdles into reluctant curiosity. He represents the world of commerce and conventional judgment that the Knapp household quietly defies.

## Relationships

### [Lester Knapp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/lester_knapp)

_friendship_

Jerome and Lester are close friends and confidants, often supporting each other through personal struggles.

### [Nell Willing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/nell_willing)

_family_

Jerome and Nell are married, and their relationship is stable and affectionate, providing a contrast to the Knapps' turmoil.

### [Lester Knapp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/lester_knapp)

_friendship_

Jerome and Lester are close friends and confidants, often supporting each other through personal struggles.

### [Lester Knapp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/lester_knapp)

_friendship_

Jerome and Lester are close friends and confidants, often supporting each other through personal struggles.

### [Nell Willing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/nell_willing)

_family_

Jerome and Nell are married, and their relationship is stable and affectionate, providing a contrast to the Knapps' turmoil.

### [Nell Willing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/nell_willing)

_family_

Jerome and Nell are married, and their relationship is stable and affectionate, providing a contrast to the Knapps' turmoil.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/chapters/part-i-iv)

Jerome Willing is discussed as the driving force behind the store's new regime, which Lester detests for its exploitation of consumerism and homemaking instincts.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/chapters/part-ii-vii)

Returns home exhausted after 36 hours of work, discusses store plans and the search for a manager with Nell.

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

Jerome is deeply engaged in his work at the Emporium, envisioning its future and interviewing Evangeline Knapp. He later visits the Knapp home after Lester's accident and sends a check, which is returned.

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

Interviews Evangeline about her work, feels a kindred spirit, and discusses her potential with his wife Nell.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/chapters/part-iv-xviii)

Offers Evangeline the promotion and discusses his vision for the store as a modern, service-oriented business.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/chapters/part-iv-xx)

Orders Evangeline to go home when she appears ill at the store.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters/jerome_willing
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_homemaker_se/characters