# Rodney Blake — The Professor’s House character guide

> Rodney Blake in The Professor’s House by Willa Cather.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Roddy, Blake

**First appearance:** 0022-i

## Snapshot

Tom Outland's older partner on the New Mexico range, a generous, unlucky workingman who gave Tom the friendship and stability he'd never had.

## Who they are

Rodney Blake met Tom Outland in a railroad camp and took him under his wing after nursing him through pneumonia, then threw up his job so the two could ride the Sitwell range together. A man who can do anything for somebody else and nothing for himself, he'd been burned by his mother's remarriage, a faithless fiancée, and a swindled oil investment. The mesa he and Tom dream of climbing becomes the emblem of their partnership, and his loyalty—and its limits—shape how Tom's story ends.

## In the story

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned as Tom's remarkable friend who gave up a job to be with him.

### [Book II: Tom Outland's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/book-ii-tom-outland-s-story)

Tom's loyal friend and partner in the discovery of the Cliff City; later sells the relics.

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

A workingman who wins gambling money; becomes Tom's close friend and mentor figure.

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

Tom's partner, who shares the duties of watching the cattle and is shown the pottery and arrowheads.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/iii)

Tom's partner; shares in the discovery and helps plan the exploration of the mesa.

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

Tom's partner in the excavation, sharing the labor and observations of the Cliff City.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/v)

Tom's partner in the discovery; stays behind to work and save money.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/vi)

Sold the relics to Fechtig; defends his decision to Tom.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/vii)

Has left after selling the relics; Tom searches for him but cannot find him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters/rodney_blake
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/characters