# Avis Everhard — The Iron Heel character guide

> Avis Everhard in The Iron Heel by Jack London.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Avis, the old Avis Everhard

**First appearance:** 0003-i-my-eagle

## Who they are

A professor's daughter who trades university-town comfort for four rooms in a San Francisco slum and a life inside the Revolution's storm.

## In the story

### [The Iron Heel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/the-iron-heel)

Narrator and author of the manuscript, reflecting on the fall of the revolution and her life in refuge.

### [My Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/i-my-eagle)

The narrator, writing from a peaceful refuge, reflects on her first meeting with Ernest and her restless anticipation of the coming revolution.

### [III: Jackson's Arm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/iii-jackson-s-arm)

Investigates Jackson's accident and the legal system, beginning to see the truth of Ernest's claims.

### [Slaves of the Machine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/iv-slaves-of-the-machine)

Avis is deeply shaken by Jackson's arm, begins to see the brutal reality of industrial society, and feels love and concern for Ernest.

### [The Philomaths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/v-the-philomaths)

Narrates the scene, observing the reactions of the Philomath Club members and Ernest's rhetorical prowess.

### [VI: Adumbrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/vi-adumbrations)

Narrator; reflects on warnings and her growing understanding of class conflict.

### [VII: The Bishop’s Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/vii-the-bishop-s-vision)

Attends the I.P.H. convention at Ernest's invitation, is moved by the Bishop's speech, initially believes it will make a sensation, but later witnesses the press blackout and begins to understand Ernest's predictions.

### [The Machine Breakers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/viii-the-machine-breakers)

Avis narrates the chapter, recalling the dinner and Ernest's arguments.

### [X: The Vortex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/x-the-vortex)

Narrator who becomes a revolutionist and is drawn into the vortex of great affairs.

### [XI: The Great Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xi-the-great-adventure)

The narrator and Ernest's wife. She merges her life with his, becoming his secretary and providing him rest. She reflects on their love and her joy in supporting his work.

### [The Bishop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xii-the-bishop)

Narrator who follows the Bishop and discovers his secret life of poverty and charity.

### [XIII: The General Strike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xiii-the-general-strike)

Narrator of the chapter; recounts the events of the general strike, the socialist landslide, and the Oligarchy's actions.

### [XIV: The Beginning of the End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xiv-the-beginning-of-the-end)

Narrates the chapter, recalling Ernest's prophecies and her disagreement with his slow evolution view.

### [Last Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xv-last-days)

Narrates the events of January 1913 and the Oligarchy's manipulation of unions.

### [XVI: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xvi-the-end)

Narrates the chapter, describing the underground revolutionary work and her journey to Washington with Ernest.

### [XVII: The Scarlet Livery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xvii-the-scarlet-livery)

Witnesses the bomb explosion from the gallery, is arrested when she tries to reach Ernest, and later writes the manuscript.

### [In the Shadow of Sonoma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-shadow-of-sonoma)

Narrator; imprisoned for six months, then escapes in disguise to prepare a hiding place for Ernest.

### [XIX: Transformation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xix-transformation)

Narrates her own transformation into a new identity, her work organizing the revolution from the refuge, and her encounters with figures from her past.

### [A Lost Oligarch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xx-a-lost-oligarch)

Narrates the chapter; describes her transformation into a new identity and her joyful reunion with Ernest.

### [XXI: The Roaring Abysmal Beast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xxi-the-roaring-abysmal-beast)

Narrator and revolutionary, reflecting on the Oligarchy's strength and the Revolution's righteousness.

### [XXII: The Chicago Commune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xxii-the-chicago-commune)

Narrator and agent-provacateur sent to Chicago; receives orders from an oligarch and tries to warn comrades.

### [The People of the Abyss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xxiii-the-people-of-the-abyss)

Narrator; experiences a psychological transformation during the massacre, losing fear of death and adopting a detached perspective.

### [XXIV: Nightmare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xxiv-nightmare)

Narrator and protagonist, wandering through the nightmare of the Chicago Commune, exhausted and traumatized.

### [XXV: The Terrorists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/xxv-the-terrorists)

Returns to New York with Ernest and observes the devastating aftermath of the Iron Heel's crackdown.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/chapters/endnotes)

Implied as the author of the manuscript to which these endnotes are appended, though not directly mentioned.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/characters/avis_everhard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iron_heel_se/characters