The Pit · Character

Laura Dearborn

A regal, coal-haired Chicago beauty who keeps three suitors circling while insisting she will never marry, discovering that her cool command of courtship may not survive the men themselves.

major

Also known as Laura, Dearborn, the Laura Dearborn

First appearance: I

As a major figure in The Pit, Laura Dearborn is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Introduced as a central character, likely to be involved in the personal and social dynamics.

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Laura Dearborn arrives in Chicago from a narrow New England upbringing and finds herself the still center of a social whirl — the Cresslers' steps, Corthell's studio, Jadwin's trotters. She manages Landry with a lifted finger and holds marriage at arm's length, refusing to let any one admirer exclude the others. Her poise and refusal to be rushed set up the novel's central contest: which version of ambition, art, or appetite will finally claim her.

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See Laura Dearborn in I

Character Web

33 connections

A slice of how Laura Dearborn sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Family
Romantic
Friendship

Character groups

Protagonist
Core Social Circle

+28 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it reveals the psychological breaking point of Jadwin, who has shift…

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Relationships

Laura Jadwin
psychological · ambivalent
Laura Dearborn and Laura Jadwin are the same person, representing her internal conflict… How this plays out →
Page Dearborn
family · positive
Landry Court
romantic · positive
Mrs. Cressler
friendship · positive
Sheldon Corthell
romantic · ambivalent
Cressler Jadwin
family · ambivalent
Samuel Gretry
social · neutral
Aunt Wess
family · positive
Curtis Jadwin
romantic · ambivalent
Grossmann
social · neutral
Mrs. Cressler
friendship · positive
Laura Jadwin
psychological · ambivalent
Laura Dearborn and Laura Jadwin are the same person, representing her internal conflict… How this plays out →

Laura Jadwin
Laura Dearborn and Laura Jadwin are the same person, representing her internal conflict and transformation from a naive girl to a wealthy but disillusioned woman.
Page Dearborn
Page Dearborn is Laura's younger sister, and their relationship is one of close familial affection and mutual support.
Landry Court
Landry Court is a devoted suitor to Laura Dearborn, representing her early romantic ideal before her marriage to Jadwin.
Mrs. Cressler
Mrs. Cressler is a close friend and confidante to Laura, offering guidance and companionship through Laura's social and marital struggles.
Sheldon Corthell
Sheldon Corthell is a sophisticated artist who becomes Laura's romantic temptation and emotional affair, representing her longing for beauty and passion.
Cressler Jadwin
Cressler Jadwin is Curtis Jadwin's brother, and Laura's brother-in-law, with a relationship marked by family obligation and mild tension.
Samuel Gretry
Laura Dearborn knows Samuel Gretry as a peripheral figure in Chicago's business and social circles, with no deep personal connection.
Aunt Wess
Aunt Wess is Laura's elderly aunt, providing a maternal figure and domestic stability in Laura's early life.
Curtis Jadwin
Curtis Jadwin is Laura's eventual husband, a powerful financier whose obsessive love and ambition both attract and suffocate her.
Grossmann
Grossmann is a minor acquaintance in Laura's social circle, likely a fellow attendee of parties and cultural events.
Mrs. Cressler
Mrs. Cressler is a close friend and confidante to Laura, offering guidance and companionship through Laura's social and marital struggles.
Laura Jadwin
Laura Dearborn and Laura Jadwin are the same person, representing her internal conflict and transformation from a naive girl to a wealthy but disillusioned woman.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Laura Dearborn in I

In the story

Laura Dearborn appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Principal Characters in the Novel
Introduced as protégé of Mrs. Cressler.
The Pit
Introduced as a central character, likely to be involved in the personal and social dynamics.
I
Laura is the central figure in this chapter, waiting at the opera with her sister and aunt. She takes the initiative to speak to Curtis Jadwin when the Cresslers fail to appear, showing her assertiveness and composure.
II
Reflects on her upbringing in Barrington, her education, and her decision to move to Chicago after her father's death.
Chapter IV
Laura listens intently to Cressler's warnings about speculation, participates in the play rehearsal, and reflects on her feelings toward her three suitors, asserting she loves no one.
Chapter V
Announces her engagement to Curtis Jadwin, expresses doubts about her feelings and whether she truly loves him.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Laura Dearborn unlock in the free preview.

See Laura Dearborn in I

See Laura Dearborn in The Pit