# Mr. Teerswell — The Quest of the Silver Fleece character guide

> Mr. Teerswell in The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W. E. B. Du Bois.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Tom Teerswell, Teerswell, Mr. Tom Teerswell

**First appearance:** 0027-xxv-the-campaign

## Snapshot

A white businessman in Easterly's inner circle, he helps steer Southern votes and treats Black strivers as an irritation to be managed.

## Who they are

Teerswell sits with Easterly and Senator Smith, weighing how to offset Todd's 'foolishness' and slip the Cotton Inspection Bill through on Southern votes. He belongs to the circle that finds Alwyn's Treasurer nomination an outrage and Mrs. Vanderpool's maneuvering a problem to be solved. He matters because he shows how the combine's work is done by ordinary, well-dressed men in ordinary rooms.

## Relationships

### [Bles Alwyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters/bles_alwyn)

_professional_

Bles works for Mr. Teerswell as a laborer and later as a political organizer, but Teerswell exploits his labor and ideals.

### [Bles Alwyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters/bles_alwyn)

_professional_

Bles works for Mr. Teerswell as a laborer and later as a political organizer, but Teerswell exploits his labor and ideals.

### [Bles Alwyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters/bles_alwyn)

_professional_

Bles works for Mr. Teerswell as a laborer and later as a political organizer, but Teerswell exploits his labor and ideals.

## In the story

### [The Education of Alwyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxiv-the-education-of-alwyn)

Carrie Wynn's long-time escort, whose fury at being publicly snubbed for Bles sets the stage for future conflict.

### [XXVI: Congressman Cresswell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxvi-congressman-cresswell)

Jealous of Alwyn's relationship with Carrie Wynn; joins Stillings' plot to destroy Alwyn.

### [A Master of Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxix-a-master-of-fate)

A shrewd political operative who, along with Stillings, engineers the trap for Alwyn. He celebrates his success and proposes to Carrie Wynn after Alwyn's fall.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters/mr_teerswell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters