# Tom Delamere — The Marrow of Tradition character guide > Tom Delamere in The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Delamere, Tom, Meanwhile Delamere **First appearance:** 0005-iv-theodore-felix ## Snapshot A handsome, dissolute heir whose charm at cards and cakewalks masks a coward's heart and a borrower's convenient memory. ## Who they are Tom Delamere is the 'empty husk' of his grandfather's aristocratic line—graceful in parlors, craven before a fractious horse, and suspected of cheating at whist. He owes Ellis four dollars he'd rather forget, courts Clara Pemberton with borrowed smiles, and mocks Sandy's church troubles while pouring him drinks. His rivalry with Ellis and his grandfather's indulgent expectations set him on a downward slant that the novel's early chapters quietly forecast. ## Relationships ### [Sandy Campbell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/sandy_campbell) _psychological_ Tom Delamere manipulates and exploits Sandy Campbell, using him as a pawn in his schemes and ultimately framing him for a crime. ### [Mr. Ellis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mr_ellis) _rivalry_ Mr. Ellis is a professional and romantic rival to Tom Delamere, competing for Clara Pemberton's affection and clashing over honor. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _social_ Mrs. Carteret maintains a polite but wary social acquaintance with Tom Delamere, aware of his questionable character but bound by Southern aristocracy. ### [Sandy Campbell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/sandy_campbell) _psychological_ Tom Delamere manipulates and exploits Sandy Campbell, using him as a pawn in his schemes and ultimately framing him for a crime. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _social_ Mrs. Carteret maintains a polite but wary social acquaintance with Tom Delamere, aware of his questionable character but bound by Southern aristocracy. ### [Sandy Campbell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/sandy_campbell) _psychological_ Tom Delamere manipulates and exploits Sandy Campbell, using him as a pawn in his schemes and ultimately framing him for a crime. ### [Mrs. Carteret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mrs_carteret) _social_ Mrs. Carteret maintains a polite but wary social acquaintance with Tom Delamere, aware of his questionable character but bound by Southern aristocracy. ### [Mr. Ellis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mr_ellis) _rivalry_ Mr. Ellis is a professional and romantic rival to Tom Delamere, competing for Clara Pemberton's affection and clashing over honor. ### [Mr. Ellis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/mr_ellis) _rivalry_ Mr. Ellis is a professional and romantic rival to Tom Delamere, competing for Clara Pemberton's affection and clashing over honor. ## In the story ### [The Marrow of Tradition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/the-marrow-of-tradition) Old Mr. Delamere's grandson, a dissolute young man whose actions lead to tragedy. ### [II: The Christening Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/ii-the-christening-party) Grandson of old Mr. Delamere; flirts with Clara, feels superior to Ellis, and later wins at cards at the Clarendon Club. ### [X: Delamere Plays a Trump](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/x-delamere-plays-a-trump) Feigns humility after Carteret's lecture but is inwardly angry; suspects Ellis of spreading rumors about him. ### [XIII: The Cakewalk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xiii-the-cakewalk) Impersonates Sandy at the cakewalk, finding it amusing; later encourages Sandy to drink to ease his distress. ### [XVI: Ellis Takes a Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xvi-ellis-takes-a-trick) Expected to join the party; found drunk in his hotel room by Ellis. ### [The Social Aspirations of Captain McBane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xvii-the-social-aspirations-of-captain-mcbane) Deeply in debt to McBane after a cheating poker game, he schemes to avoid paying by proposing McBane for the Clarendon Club or finding other means. ### [Sandy Sees His Own Ha'nt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xviii-sandy-sees-his-own-ha-nt) Tom repays Sandy a loan in gold, then burns items in his room late at night, suggesting suspicious behavior. ### [XIX: A Midnight Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xix-a-midnight-walk) Mentioned as the rival of Ellis; a story about his cheating at cards is circulating, which Ellis believes will ruin his reputation with Clara. ### [XXIII: Belleview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxiii-belleview) Mentioned as having gone fishing down the river, absent when Sandy needed help. ### [XXIV: Two Southern Gentlemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxiv-two-southern-gentlemen) Mentioned as having gone fishing; Sandy implies Tom might have helped if present. ### [The Honor of a Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxv-the-honor-of-a-family) Mentioned as having been caught cheating at the Clarendon Club, forced to resign, and used by Carteret as an example of how even a gentleman can stoop to dishonor. ### [The Discomfort of Ellis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxvi-the-discomfort-of-ellis) Implied to be the real murderer; Ellis believes he is the one who committed the crime. ### [The Vagaries of the Higher Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxvii-the-vagaries-of-the-higher-law) Identified as the true murderer, having blackened his face and framed Sandy to cover his gambling debts. ### [XXVIII: In Season and Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxviii-in-season-and-out) Does not retain Sandy, gives him the old gentleman's wardrobe, and leaves town after being socially ostracized. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/tom_delamere - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters