# Philip Wakem — The Mill on the Floss character guide > Philip Wakem in The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Philip, Wakem, dear Philip, Phil **First appearance:** 0017-iii-the-new-schoolfellow ## Snapshot Lawyer Wakem's sensitive, hunchbacked son, whose intelligence and secret devotion to Maggie cut across the feud between their fathers. ## Who they are Philip Wakem is the lawyer's son, physically deformed and inwardly refined, drawn to Maggie's mind and warmth from childhood. He moves quietly through St. Ogg's, avoiding crowds, buying up what others reject, and nursing a love that the Tulliver name makes dangerous. His friendship with Maggie becomes the novel's tenderest and most forbidden bond. ## Relationships ### [Maggie Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/maggie_tulliver) _romantic_ Intellectual and emotional connection complicated by family feud and social constraints, with romantic undertones. ### [Tom Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/tom_tulliver) _rivalry_ Antagonistic relationship fueled by family enmity and Tom's resentment of Philip's connection to Maggie. ### [Lucy Deane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/lucy_deane) _friendship_ Kind and sympathetic friend, with Lucy acting as a gentle intermediary between Philip and Maggie. ### [Stephen Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/stephen_guest) _rivalry_ Rivals for Maggie's affection, with Philip's intellectual depth contrasting Stephen's charismatic appeal. ### [Maggie Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/maggie_tulliver) _romantic_ Intellectual and emotional connection complicated by family feud and social constraints, with romantic undertones. ### [Maggie Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/maggie_tulliver) _romantic_ Intellectual and emotional connection complicated by family feud and social constraints, with romantic undertones. ### [Tom Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/tom_tulliver) _rivalry_ Antagonistic relationship fueled by family enmity and Tom's resentment of Philip's connection to Maggie. ### [Lucy Deane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/lucy_deane) _friendship_ Kind and sympathetic friend, with Lucy acting as a gentle intermediary between Philip and Maggie. ### [Stephen Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/stephen_guest) _rivalry_ Rivals for Maggie's affection, with Philip's intellectual depth contrasting Stephen's charismatic appeal. ### [Tom Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/tom_tulliver) _rivalry_ Antagonistic relationship fueled by family enmity and Tom's resentment of Philip's connection to Maggie. ### [Lucy Deane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/lucy_deane) _friendship_ Kind and sympathetic friend, with Lucy acting as a gentle intermediary between Philip and Maggie. ## In the story ### [II: The Christmas Holidays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/ii-the-christmas-holidays) Mentioned as the son of Lawyer Wakem, who is to be sent to Mr. Stelling's school; described as a poor deformed creature taking after his mother. ### [The New Schoolfellow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iii-the-new-schoolfellow) The new schoolfellow; a deformed but intelligent boy who draws skillfully and shares heroic tales with Tom. ### [IV: “The Young Idea”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iv-the-young-idea) Tom's schoolmate, helps with Latin and tells heroic tales; sensitive about his deformity, leading to occasional outbursts. ### [Maggie's Second Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/v-maggie-s-second-visit) Clever and sensitive, feels repulsed by Tom's insult about his father, but is curious about Maggie. ### [A Love-Scene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/vi-a-love-scene) Shows compassion by inquiring about Tom's recovery and sharing the good news; develops a deep emotional connection with Maggie. ### [Book V: Wheat and Tares](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/book-v-wheat-and-tares) Reunites with Maggie in secret, expressing his love and hoping to win her despite the enmity between their families. ### [In the Red Deeps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/i-in-the-red-deeps) Philip returns from abroad and seeks out Maggie in the Red Deeps. He is melancholic, yearning for connection and beauty in life, and expresses his discontent with his lot and his desire to see Maggie regularly. ### [III: The Wavering Balance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iii-the-wavering-balance) Manipulates Maggie's guilt and desire for companionship to maintain their secret meetings, justifying his actions with sophistry. ### [IV: Another Love-Scene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iv-another-love-scene) Philip expresses his love for Maggie, asks for her commitment, and is reassured by her affection, though he senses her hesitation. ### [The Cloven Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/v-the-cloven-tree) Defends his love for Maggie and agrees to abide by her wishes, despite Tom's insults. ### [Book VI: The Great Temptation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/book-vi-the-great-temptation) Maggie's former love, whose memory adds to her internal conflict. ### [A Duet in Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/i-a-duet-in-paradise) Mentioned as a sensitive tenor who avoids Tom Tulliver due to the family quarrel; Lucy hopes Maggie will not object to seeing him. ### [First Impressions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/ii-first-impressions) Maggie thinks of Philip as the only person who loved her devotedly; Lucy mentions him as a musical friend. ### [Confidential Moments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iii-confidential-moments) Subject of Maggie's confession; Lucy plans to invite him to bring music, but Maggie is hesitant due to her promise to Tom. ### [IV: Brother and Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iv-brother-and-sister) Discussed as a potential romantic interest for Maggie; Tom forbids any serious relationship due to the family feud. ### [VI: Illustrating the Laws of Attraction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/vi-illustrating-the-laws-of-attraction) Philip is absent, having gone to the coast on a sketching expedition, delaying his reunion with Maggie. ### [Philip Re-Enters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/vii-philip-re-enters) Visits Lucy and Maggie, feels hurt by Maggie's apparent change, and argues against her renunciation of love. ### [Wakem in a New Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/viii-wakem-in-a-new-light) Confronts his father about his love for Maggie, showing him her portraits and defending her character. ### [IX: Charity in Full-Dress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/ix-charity-in-full-dress) Mentioned as not attending the bazaar; his father's change of heart is revealed, removing obstacles to his marriage with Maggie. ### [X: The Spell Seems Broken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/x-the-spell-seems-broken) Visits Maggie in the garden, seeking reassurance; clings to the past and feels jealousy despite Maggie's open answer. ### [XI: In the Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/xi-in-the-lane) Philip is referenced as the person Maggie considers herself engaged to, though she cannot bring herself to say she loves him better than Stephen. ### [XIII: Borne Along by the Tide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/xiii-borne-along-by-the-tide) Sends a note excusing himself from the boat ride, inadvertently enabling Stephen to take his place. ### [Waking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/xiv-waking) Maggie reflects on her betrayal of Philip and the ties she has broken. ### [III: Showing That Old Acquaintances Are Capable of Surprising Us](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iii-showing-that-old-acquaintances-are-capable-of-surprising-us) Writes a letter to Maggie expressing his belief in her truthfulness and his enduring love despite the pain. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/philip_wakem - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters