# Susie Boyd — The Magician character guide > Susie Boyd in The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Susan Boyd, Miss Susie, Miss Boyd **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Margaret's sharp-tongued, clear-eyed companion in Paris, she watches the courtship around her with wit, loyalty, and a growing unease she cannot quite name. ## Who they are Susie Boyd is Margaret's friend and chaperone in Paris, a woman with a merciless eye for pretension and a warm loyalty to those she loves. She moves easily among the students and painters of the Chien Noir, dissecting poseurs with gaiety, yet her affection for Margaret makes her attentive to dangers others dismiss. As the story darkens, Susie becomes the one who keeps asking questions, pressing Dr. Porhoët for answers when everyone else prefers not to look. ## Relationships ### [Arthur Burdon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/arthur_burdon) _friendship_ Arthur and Susie are close friends and confidants, with Susie often supporting him through his troubles. ### [Margaret Dauncey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/margaret_dauncey) _friendship_ Margaret and Susie share a supportive friendship, with Susie trying to protect Margaret from harm. ### [Oliver Haddo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/oliver_haddo) _psychological_ Oliver Haddo views Susie with contempt and attempts to manipulate or undermine her, creating a tense dynamic. ### [Dr. Porhoët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/dr_porhoet) _friendship_ Dr. Porhoët and Susie are friendly acquaintances who share intellectual conversations and mutual respect. ### [Arthur Burdon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/arthur_burdon) _friendship_ Arthur and Susie are close friends and confidants, with Susie often supporting him through his troubles. ### [Arthur Burdon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/arthur_burdon) _friendship_ Arthur and Susie are close friends and confidants, with Susie often supporting him through his troubles. ### [Margaret Dauncey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/margaret_dauncey) _friendship_ Margaret and Susie share a supportive friendship, with Susie trying to protect Margaret from harm. ### [Oliver Haddo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/oliver_haddo) _psychological_ Oliver Haddo views Susie with contempt and attempts to manipulate or undermine her, creating a tense dynamic. ### [Margaret Dauncey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/margaret_dauncey) _friendship_ Margaret and Susie share a supportive friendship, with Susie trying to protect Margaret from harm. ### [Dr. Porhoët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/dr_porhoet) _friendship_ Dr. Porhoët and Susie are friendly acquaintances who share intellectual conversations and mutual respect. ### [Dr. Porhoët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/dr_porhoet) _friendship_ Dr. Porhoët and Susie are friendly acquaintances who share intellectual conversations and mutual respect. ### [Oliver Haddo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/oliver_haddo) _psychological_ Oliver Haddo views Susie with contempt and attempts to manipulate or undermine her, creating a tense dynamic. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as Margaret's companion; not directly present in this chapter. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/ii) Margaret's flatmate and former teacher; she observes Arthur and Margaret's relationship with a mix of affection and envy, and warns Margaret about Arthur's emotional vulnerability. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/iii) Guides Arthur through the Chien Noir crowd, describing each patron with witty commentary. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/iv) Fascinated by Haddo's eccentricity, she insists on observing him and suspects his influence over the horse. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/v) Chooses independence at the Louvre; later at Dr. Porhoët's, she examines his occult library with excitement. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/vi) Receives Arthur's forwarded letter and responds, insisting Arthur come to tea with Haddo and be polite. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/vii) Observes the interactions with a critical eye; lights a cigarette to steady her nerves after the violence; reflects on Arthur's character. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/viii) Susie is suspicious of Haddo's regret and warns Arthur, but her concerns are dismissed. She later receives a telegram from an old friend and goes to the station, only to find the friend never arrived. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/ix) Observes Margaret and Arthur's embrace with hidden pain, and later sobs passionately after they leave. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/x) Suffers alongside Arthur; investigates Margaret's disappearance and reveals Haddo's earlier hatred; suspects supernatural compulsion. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xi) Visits London, observes Arthur's suffering and the Haddos' scandalous life, confronts Margaret at the end of the chapter. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xii) Cares for Margaret, discovers her flight, and decides to seek Dr. Porhoët's help. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xiii) Susie accompanies Arthur and Dr. Porhoët, trying to calm Arthur's agitation. She listens to Dr. Porhoët's discourse on occult science and is present when Arthur arrives with news of his visit to Venning. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xiv) Accompanies Arthur and Dr. Porhoët, expresses anxiety about Arthur's actions. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xv) Terrified and reluctant, Susie is forced to participate in the ritual; her secret love for Arthur is revealed when he appeals to it. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xvi) Anxious and determined to restrain Arthur, she stays to compromise him and witnesses the murder and the laboratory horrors. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/susie_boyd - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters