# Sheldon Corthell — The Pit character guide

> Sheldon Corthell in The Pit by Frank Norris.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Corthell, Corthell, that Mr. Corthell, the old Corthell, Sheldon

**First appearance:** 0005-ii

## Who they are

A painter whose studio talk of art and beauty offers Laura a rival vision of life to the brute force of the grain trade.

## Relationships

### [Laura Dearborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/laura_dearborn)

_romantic_

Sheldon Corthell is a sophisticated artist who becomes Laura's romantic temptation and emotional affair, representing her longing for beauty and passion.

### [Mrs. Cressler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/mrs_cressler)

_social_

Mrs. Cressler and Sheldon Corthell are acquaintances within Chicago's artistic and high-society circles, with no deep personal involvement.

### [Laura Dearborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/laura_dearborn)

_romantic_

Sheldon Corthell is a sophisticated artist who becomes Laura's romantic temptation and emotional affair, representing her longing for beauty and passion.

### [Laura Dearborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/laura_dearborn)

_romantic_

Sheldon Corthell is a sophisticated artist who becomes Laura's romantic temptation and emotional affair, representing her longing for beauty and passion.

### [Mrs. Cressler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/mrs_cressler)

_social_

Mrs. Cressler and Sheldon Corthell are acquaintances within Chicago's artistic and high-society circles, with no deep personal involvement.

### [Mrs. Cressler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/mrs_cressler)

_social_

Mrs. Cressler and Sheldon Corthell are acquaintances within Chicago's artistic and high-society circles, with no deep personal involvement.

## In the story

### [Principal Characters in the Novel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/principal-characters-in-the-novel)

Introduced as an artist.

### [The Pit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/the-pit)

Introduced as an artistic and cultured figure, contrasting with the traders.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/i)

Corthell is an artist who has romantic interest in Laura. He gives her flowers and recalls their past correspondence, including a stained glass window he made for her.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/ii)

A talented but less substantial young man, contrasted with Jadwin by Mrs. Cressler.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/iv)

Corthell makes love to Laura extravagantly on each occasion, but is contrasted with Jadwin's directness; he feigns ignorance of the play coach.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/viii)

Accompanies Laura, Mrs. Cressler, and Page to the theatre and hosts supper; later visits Laura at home and is invited to play for her again.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/chapters/conclusion)

Mentioned in Page's letter as having sailed for Europe, closing a chapter in Laura's past.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters/sheldon_corthell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_se/characters