The House of Mirth · Character
Percy Gryce
Immensely rich, profoundly dull, and paralyzed by his own decorum, Percy Gryce is the marriage market's great prize and its most tedious prospect.
supporting
Also known as Mr. Percy Gryce, Mr. Gryce, Gryce, Percy
First appearance: Chapter II
As a supporting figure in The House of Mirth, Percy Gryce is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
A wealthy but dull young man whom Lily considers as a marriage prospect due to his fortune and social standing.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Gryce arrives at Bellomont trailing Americana collections and a horror of impropriety, exactly the kind of heavy, passive fortune Lily has been trained to pursue. His shyness makes him manageable and his wealth makes…
Continue beside the text
The fuller portrait of Percy Gryce sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Percy Gryce in Chapter IICharacter Web
24 connectionsA slice of how Percy Gryce sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- High society insiders
- Peripheral and background figures
+19 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this scene, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Lily, driven by an intense longing to dispel t…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Lily Bart
romantic · negative
A calculated courtship by Lily to secure a wealthy marriage, which fails due to her… How this plays out →
- Bertha Dorset
social · negative
- Bertha Dorset
social · negative
- Lily Bart
romantic · negative
A calculated courtship by Lily to secure a wealthy marriage, which fails due to her… How this plays out →
- Lily Bart
romantic · negative
A calculated courtship by Lily to secure a wealthy marriage, which fails due to her… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Percy Gryce in Chapter IIIn the story
Percy Gryce appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Percy Gryce unlock in the free preview.
See Percy Gryce in Chapter II