# Hugh Carver — The Plastic Age character guide > Hugh Carver in The Plastic Age by Percy Marks. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Hugh, Carver, Herbert Morse, Bert Morse **First appearance:** 0001-the-plastic-age ## Snapshot A tender-hearted Sanford undergraduate whose impulsive sympathy for a sobbing stranger sets him on a four-year education in love, liquor, and self-knowledge. ## Who they are Hugh arrives at college clean, boyishly frank, and easily swept up by the campus's social currents — poker, bootleg gin, and the pull of new friends. His instinct to comfort the weeping Morse reveals the warmth that defines him, but also a susceptibility to being needed and to drifting. Through him the novel measures how a decent, gifted boy slowly learns what college costs and what it can give. ## Relationships ### [Cynthia Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/cynthia_day) _romantic_ Cynthia is Hugh's love interest, representing the allure of the jazz age and a source of both passion and conflict for him. ### [Carl Peters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/carl_peters) _friendship_ Carl is Hugh's close friend and roommate, a cynical and worldly influence who introduces Hugh to the hedonistic college lifestyle. ### [Norry Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/norry_parker) _friendship_ Norry is Hugh's loyal and more idealistic friend, often serving as a moral counterpoint to Carl's influence. ### [Harry Slade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/harry_slade) _rivalry_ Harry is a wealthy, arrogant upperclassman who competes with Hugh for social status and Cynthia's attention. ### [Jimmie Henley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/jimmie_henley) _friendship_ Jimmie is a fellow student and part of Hugh's social circle, a typical college friend involved in parties and escapades. ### [Helen Simpson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/helen_simpson) _romantic_ Helen is a more serious and intellectual woman who offers Hugh a different kind of relationship, contrasting with Cynthia's frivolity. ### [Janet Harton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/janet_harton) _romantic_ Janet is a flirtatious and modern young woman who engages in a casual romantic dalliance with Hugh. ### [Bob Tucker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/bob_tucker) _friendship_ Bob is a fellow student and friend, part of the group that drinks, parties, and navigates college life together. ### [Malcolm Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/malcolm_graham) _friendship_ Malcolm is a friend and classmate, often participating in the same social activities and discussions as Hugh. ### [George Winsor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/george_winsor) _friendship_ George is a friend and fellow student, part of the core group that engages in drinking and partying. ### [Ted Allen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/ted_allen) _friendship_ Ted is a friend and classmate, another member of Hugh's social circle at college. ### [Professor Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/professor_kane) _professional_ Professor Kane is a faculty member who represents academic authority and intellectual ideals, often clashing with Hugh's priorities. ## In the story ### [The Plastic Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/the-plastic-age) Protagonist arriving at Sanford College, beginning his college experience. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/i) Arrives at Sanford College, eager and self-conscious about his country background; meets his roommate Carl Peters. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/ii) Writes letters, recalls his goodbye with Helen, and lies in bed dreaming of college and Carl. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/iii) Feels overwhelmed by registration and lectures, but later embraces the hazing as a rite of passage, feeling recognized as part of Sanford. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/iv) Struggles with his course schedule, lies to Carl about hating study, and enjoys the movie excitement. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/v) Experiences the panic and confusion of a new freshman, from racing to class to dealing with a schedule mix-up. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/vi) Feels virtuous and happy after studying; comforts Morse during a homesick breakdown; discusses Morse with Carl and learns about Carl's background. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/vii) Hugh endures and participates in hazing, defends Wilkins, and later fights three sophomores during the class rush, earning their respect. He also receives a disappointing letter from Morse. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/viii) Hugh is upset by dormitory initiations and questions his ideals of college. He recalls a talk with his father, feeling both closeness and confusion as his expectations clash with reality. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/ix) Thrilled by the rallies and bonfires; eagerly participates in gathering wood and dancing; deeply moved by Coach Price's speech. ### [The Big Game and the Serenade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/x) Sings a serenade at a fraternity house, dances with a girl, and is kissed; his thoughts drift from the game to the mysterious girl. ### [The Long Winter of Study](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xi) Struggles with his studies after neglecting them; feels guilt and relief over his relationship with Helen Simpson; participates in a study seminar. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xii) Hugh experiences the fraternity rushing process, receives bids, and joins Nu Delta. He defends Carl's worth and is unsettled by Graham's frank talk. ### [The Fight for Study and the Spring Sings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xiii) Struggles to study amid distractions, misses fraternity dance due to grippe, focuses on track, leads freshmen in sings, and reflects on becoming a sophomore. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xiv) Returns to college after a summer of farm work and a disappointing romance with Janet Harton; struggles to fit the sophomore mold and confides in Carl about his feelings. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xv) Attends bull sessions, feels confused about his beliefs, and quotes Lavengro in defense of life's sweetness. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xvi) Experiences disillusionment with professors, fraternity, and his own actions; deeply affected by Carl's departure and letter. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xvii) Hugh is inspired by Professor Henley's honest criticism and begins to take his writing seriously, rewriting themes and engaging in long conferences. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xviii) Disillusioned with Sanford and Nu Delta; refuses a role in the musical comedy; defends his friendships and independence; reflects on his father's advice and Graham's warning. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xix) Hugh enjoys a period of calm with friends but is deeply disturbed by the Nu Delta dance, where he confronts drunkenness and sexual misconduct, leading to a crisis of conscience about his fraternity membership. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xx) Struggles with drinking due to Vinton's influence, excels in studies, and falls in love with Cynthia Day during a summer visit to Norry's cottage. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxi) Participates in a high-stakes poker game, struggles with self-control and gambling addiction. ### [Prom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxii) Deeply in love with Cynthia, excited for Prom, becomes heavily drunk and attempts to take advantage of Cynthia, leading to a confrontation with Norry. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxiii) Struggles with shame and indecision after Prom; confides in Norry and Henley; wins election to the Boulé; trains obsessively for the Sanford-Raleigh meet. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxiv) Spends his last college vacation at home, working and reflecting; sees Janet Harton and feels disillusioned with women; enjoys his senior year academically, earns good grades, and is elected to Helmer; becomes troubled by Cynthia's condition and his own confusion; expresses contempt for college education in a discussion with seniors. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxv) Engages Henley in dialogue about college's purpose and his own doubts. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxvi) Struggles with his feelings for Cynthia and his future after graduation; meets Cynthia in New York and decides they are better as friends. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/chapters/xxvii) Graduates from Sanford, reflects on his college years and the bittersweet farewell. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters/hugh_carver - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_plastic_age_se/characters