# Major Carteret — The Marrow of Tradition character guide > Major Carteret in The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Carteret, a Carteret, Major, Major Philip Carteret, Phil **First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-christening-party ## Snapshot A newspaper editor who turns his press into an instrument of white supremacy, convinced he is the embodiment of his race's embattled honor. ## Who they are Major Philip Carteret edits the Morning Chronicle and moves through Wellington's best circles as a man of standing and influence. He is driven by a cold, paternalistic certainty that the old order must be restored, and he treats politics as both duty and inheritance. His paper and his committee work give the campaign to restrict Black suffrage its voice and its strategy, making him the quiet engine of the novel's central crisis. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _family_ Major Carteret and Mrs. Carteret are husband and wife, united in their desire for a child but divided by his political extremism. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _family_ Major Carteret and Mrs. Carteret are husband and wife, united in their desire for a child but divided by his political extremism. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _family_ Major Carteret and Mrs. Carteret are husband and wife, united in their desire for a child but divided by his political extremism. ## In the story ### [The Marrow of Tradition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/the-marrow-of-tradition) A white supremacist newspaper editor who conspires to maintain white dominance. ### [At Break of Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/i-at-break-of-day) Anxious and hopeful as he awaits the birth of his child; reflects on his family's decline after the Civil War and his marriage to Olivia. ### [II: The Christening Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/ii-the-christening-party) Hosts the christening party; engages in a debate about negro loyalty and racial hierarchy with old Mr. Delamere. ### [The Editor at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/iii-the-editor-at-work) Returns to work after his son's birth, feeling renewed pride in his race and class. He writes an editorial decrying Black political participation and is receptive to the conspiratorial visit from Belmont and McBane. ### [IV: Theodore Felix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/iv-theodore-felix) Comforts Mammy Jane, expresses nostalgia for old racial hierarchies, and anxiously arranges for the best medical care for Dodie. ### [VI: Janet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/vi-janet) Father of the sick child; his residence is the location for the operation. ### [VII: The Operation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/vii-the-operation) Fiercely opposed to a black doctor entering his home; invokes racial principles and personal family reasons to block Miller's presence. ### [VIII: The Campaign Drags](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/viii-the-campaign-drags) Leads the campaign through the Morning Chronicle, advocating for white supremacy and using his control of news dispatches. ### [IX: A White Man's "Nigger"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/ix-a-white-man-s-nigger) Indignant at the editorial, he sees it as a violation of Southern unwritten law and advocates for suppression, though he is annoyed by McBane's vulgarity. ### [X: Delamere Plays a Trump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/x-delamere-plays-a-trump) Delivers a fatherly lecture to Tom Delamere about moderation and discretion, concerned for Clara's happiness and the family honor. ### [XVI: Ellis Takes a Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xvi-ellis-takes-a-trick) Drives the trap; expresses anger at Black people's behavior; discusses white supremacy with General Belmont. ### [XIX: A Midnight Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xix-a-midnight-walk) His house is passed by Ellis on the walk home; mentioned as a relative of Tom Delamere. ### [XXI: The Necessity of an Example](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxi-the-necessity-of-an-example) Leads the discussion at the Chronicle, viewing the murder as a political tool to justify white supremacy and suppress the black vote. ### [The Honor of a Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxv-the-honor-of-a-family) Confronted by Mr. Delamere, reveals Tom Delamere's card-cheating scandal, expresses skepticism about Sandy's innocence, and reluctantly agrees to help only for Mr. Delamere's sake. ### [The Vagaries of the Higher Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxvii-the-vagaries-of-the-higher-law) Orchestrates the cover-up, prioritizing family honor and racial prestige over truth and justice. ### [XXVIII: In Season and Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxviii-in-season-and-out) Leads the campaign for white supremacy, employs Sandy as butler, and uses the Morning Chronicle to promote disenfranchisement. ### [XXIX: Muttering of the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxix-muttering-of-the-storm) Leads the conspiracy, advocates for a 'revolution' rather than a riot, and opposes unnecessary bloodshed but is personally conflicted about Dr. Miller. ### [XXX: The Missing Papers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxx-the-missing-papers) Dismisses the legality and morality of interracial marriage, reassuring his wife that any such will would be invalid. ### [XXXI: The Shadow of a Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxi-the-shadow-of-a-dream) Warns Olivia to stay indoors due to a political demonstration; leaves for the office. ### [XXXV: “Mine Enemy, O Mine Enemy!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxv-mine-enemy-o-mine-enemy) Arrives at the scene and tries to stop the violence, calling it murder and madness; but his words are misinterpreted by the mob, who cheer him as a champion of white supremacy; he ultimately washes his hands of the horrors. ### [Fiat Justitia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxvi-fiat-justitia) Struggles with his responsibility for the riot and his son's illness; reluctantly decides to call Dr. Miller. ### [The Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-sisters) Mentioned as having left Miller's house earlier; receives Mrs. Carteret's fainting form at the door. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/major_carteret - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters