# Louie Marsellus — The Professor’s House character guide > Louie Marsellus in The Professor’s House by Willa Cather. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Marsellus, Marsellus **First appearance:** 0003-book-i-the-family ## Snapshot Rosamond's warm, effusive husband, a businessman whose wealth flows from Tom Outland's invention and whose foreign manners both charm and unsettle the St. Peters. ## Who they are Louie Marsellus is generous, demonstrative, and utterly unlike anyone else in the St. Peter family circle—he kisses his mother-in-law on the cheek at faculty receptions, hurries audibly through his soup, and arranges elaborate hospitalities for the professor without being asked. His fortune derives from Tom Outland's discovery, a fact that complicates his place in the family and the town. Lillian adores him, Scott resents him, and St. Peter finds himself accepting favors he would rather refuse. ## Relationships ### [Scott McGregor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/scott_mcgregor) _friendship_ Louie and Scott share a genial, social friendship, often engaging in business and family discussions. ### [Scott McGregor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/scott_mcgregor) _friendship_ Louie and Scott share a genial, social friendship, often engaging in business and family discussions. ### [Scott McGregor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/scott_mcgregor) _friendship_ Louie and Scott share a genial, social friendship, often engaging in business and family discussions. ## In the story ### [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/epigraph) Speaker of the epigraph, musing about a turquoise set in dull silver. ### [The Professor's House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/the-professor-s-house) Referenced as a significant figure in the family's life, with his influence and plans (like the France trip) shaping the narrative. ### [Book I: The Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/book-i-the-family) Announces naming the new house 'Outland', causing friction. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/ii) Enthusiastic and tactless, he announces the naming of his new house 'Outland' and invites Sir Edgar to visit it. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iii) Discussed at breakfast; his naming of the house 'Outland' and his behavior are points of contention. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned as Rosamond's husband who helped make Outland's discovery commercially successful and supports the offer to St. Peter. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the one who plans to name his estate 'Outland' after Tom Outland; the Professor feels he cannot object. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/vi) Plans to give Rosamond emeralds and a birthday trip to Chicago; eager to attend St. Peter's lectures. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/vii) Indirectly present through his influence on Rosamond's taste and the source of the family's new wealth. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/viii) Generously hosts the St. Peters in Chicago, arranges the opera and birthday dinner, and presents Rosamond with emeralds. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/ix) At the family dinner, he admires Rosamond's jewelry, discusses plans for a summer trip to France, and engages in playful banter with Mrs. St. Peter and Scott McGregor. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xii) Accused by Mrs. Crane of exploiting Dr. Crane and taking all the patent benefits. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xiii) Referenced as the one who profits from the patent and who might be approached for compensation. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xiv) Accompanies them to Chicago, reluctantly leaves to join his brother, and St. Peter feels a sense of loss after his departure. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xv) Enthusiastically plans the summer trip to France, showing his admiration for Lillian and his desire to include the Professor. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xvi) Proposes giving furniture to the McGregors, shows magnanimity and persistence, admires Tom Outland's blanket. ### [Book III: The Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/book-iii-the-professor) Mentioned as part of the family group planning the trip to France, his actions are a source of tension. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iii) Writes letters from France, alternating with Lillian, and buys gifts for St. Peter. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iv) Writes to announce the family's return and the upcoming arrival of a new baby. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/louie_marsellus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters