The Second Mrs. Tanqueray · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by Arthur W. Pinero.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
Paula Tanqueray
major
Also known as Paula Goose, Paula Suspiciously, Paula Eating, Paula Hospitable wretch, Aubrey Paula, Paula Coldly, Paula Aubrey, Paula Violently, Paula Rising, Paula George, Paula Heaven, Paula Hark, Paula Sobbing, Paula Laughing, Paula Mrs. Cortelyon, Paula Cortelyon, Miss Paula Ray, Miss Ray
A woman with a past, Paula marries Aubrey Tanqueray and enters respectable society determined to be accepted, though her wit and temper keep threatening the performance.
Aubrey Tanqueray
major
Also known as Aubrey, Aubrey Men, Aubrey The beast, Aubrey Smiling, Aubrey Lose Ellean, Aubrey Well, Aubrey Eyeing Drummle, Aubrey To Drummle, Aubrey Gripping Drummle, Aubrey Mrs. Jarman, Aubrey Heaven, Aubrey Alice, Aubrey Frowning, Aubrey Hush, Aubrey Paula, Aubrey Captain Ardale, Aubrey Cayley, Mr. Tanqueray, Mrs. Aubrey Tanqueray, dear Mrs. Aubrey
Forty-two, handsome, and quietly romantic, Aubrey Tanqueray stuns his oldest friends at dinner by announcing he will marry tomorrow and quit his Albany chambers for a country house.
Ellean Tanqueray
major
Also known as Saint Ellean, Ellean Jealous, Ellean Papa, Ellean Disappointed, Ellean Father, Ellean Ah, Ellean Nobody, Ellean Faintly, Ellean Papa, Miss Ellean, Ellean Mrs. Cortelyon
Aubrey's devout daughter from his first marriage, Ellean returns from Mrs. Cortelyon's care wary of her new stepmother and protective of her father's peace.
Cayley Drummle
supporting
Also known as Cayley, Drummle, Drummle Aub, Drummle Eh, Drummle Gaily, old Cayley, Drummle Mrs. Dartry, Drummle Angry, Drummle Aubrey, Mr. Drummle, Servant Mr. Drummle
Cayley Drummle, the cynical bachelor Aubrey calls his closest friend, misses the fatal dinner but hovers near the marriage as confidant, gossip, and anxious observer.
Frank Misquith
supporting
Also known as Misquith, Frank, Frank Misquith Q.C., Misquith Aubrey, Frank Misquith
Genial, portly Frank Misquith, Q.C., M.P., has dined with Aubrey for fifteen years and greets the sudden marriage news with congratulations that barely hide his alarm.
Sir George Orreyed
supporting
Also known as George Orreyed, the late George Orreyed, George, Orreyed, Sir George
Sir George Orreyed, a dissolute baronet of Aubrey's old set, has married the actress Dodo and now drifts through society as a cautionary example of ruinous pleasure.
Lady Orreyed
supporting
Also known as Dodo, Lady Orreyed Jumping, Lady Orreyed Dodo, poor old Dodo, Lady Orreyed Rising, Lady Orreyed Paula, Lady Orreyed Kissing Paula, Lady Orreyed Staring, old Lady Orreyed, Miss Hervey Lady Orreyed
Sir George's restless, chattering wife, who treats society as a stage and everyone in it as her audience.
Mrs. Cortelyon
supporting
Also known as Aubrey Mrs. Cortelyon, Cortelyon, Mrs. Cortelyon Laughing, Mrs. Cortelyon Young Ardale Ellean, Dear Mrs. Cortelyon, Alice Cortelyon, Alice, Mrs. Cortelyon Mrs. Cortelyon
A polished Surrey widow whose kindness to Ellean carries the quiet authority of a woman who knows exactly what society permits.
Captain Ardale
supporting
Also known as Ardale, young Ardale, Mr. Ardale, Hugh Ardale
A young army officer whose easy charm and unexamined past make him the kind of guest country houses welcome without asking questions.
Jayne
minor
Also known as Jayne Aubrey, Jayne Practically, Jayne Cayley, Jayne To Misquith, Mrs. Jayne, Jayne Cayley
A servant or companion in the Tanqueray household.
Mrs. Jarman
minor
Also known as Aubrey Mrs. Jarman
A minor character mentioned in the play.
Mabel Hervey
minor
Also known as Mabel
A friend or acquaintance of Paula's from her past.
Doctor
minor
Also known as doctor
A physician attending to characters in the play.
Hugh
minor
Also known as Hugh Nelly, Nelly, Hugh Evidently, Hugh Mrs. Tanqueray, Hugh Hush
A servant or minor character in the household.
Mrs. Brereton
minor
Also known as a Mrs. Brereton
A minor character mentioned in passing.
Mrs. Misquith
minor
Also known as Misquith
Frank Misquith's wife, mentioned but not seen.
Mrs. Dartry
minor
Also known as Drummle Mrs. Dartry
A minor character associated with Drummle.
