# Geordie Thornthwaite — The Splendid Fairing character guide > Geordie Thornthwaite in The Splendid Fairing by Constance Holme. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Geordie, Geordie Thornthet, Cousin Geordie **First appearance:** 0023-part-iv-geordie-an-jim ## Snapshot The Thornthwaites' only son: a wheedling, idle rattlehorn whom the lasses followed like bees and whose homecoming is rumored to have made a fortune. ## Who they are Geordie is the one point on which Sarah will not yield to Eliza, the boy she is sure has stuff in him that will someday prove itself to the world. To the wider clan he is a wastrel with a smile, and to May Fleming he is the lover she cannot quite put behind her. His long absence and reported return pull every thread of the family's hope and resentment taut. ## Relationships ### [Sarah Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/sarah_thornthwaite) _family_ Geordie is Sarah's younger brother, often teasing her but also protective and affectionate. ### [Eliza of Blindbeck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/eliza_of_blindbeck) _friendship_ Eliza and Geordie are friendly acquaintances, often sharing lighthearted banter and mutual support. ### [May Fleming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/may_fleming) _friendship_ Geordie and May are childhood friends, with a playful and teasing dynamic. ### [Simon Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/simon_thornthwaite) _family_ Geordie and Simon are brothers, with Geordie often seeking Simon's approval and advice. ### [Sarah Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/sarah_thornthwaite) _family_ Geordie is Sarah's younger brother, often teasing her but also protective and affectionate. ### [Simon Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/simon_thornthwaite) _family_ Geordie and Simon are brothers, with Geordie often seeking Simon's approval and advice. ### [May Fleming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/may_fleming) _friendship_ Geordie and May are childhood friends, with a playful and teasing dynamic. ### [Eliza of Blindbeck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/eliza_of_blindbeck) _friendship_ Eliza and Geordie are friendly acquaintances, often sharing lighthearted banter and mutual support. ### [Sarah Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/sarah_thornthwaite) _family_ Geordie is Sarah's younger brother, often teasing her but also protective and affectionate. ## In the story ### [The Splendid Fairing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/the-splendid-fairing) Subject of Sarah's lie about his return; May offers to bring him home. ### [Part I: Simon and Sarah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/part-i-simon-and-sarah) Subject of Sarah's lie about his return and May's offer to bring him home. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iv) Has been gone for twenty years; wrote asking for money to return home; May still loves him. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/v) Geordie is the absent figure around whom Sarah and May weave their shared fantasy. He is remembered as the handsome, witty center of attention, and his imagined return sustains them. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/vi) Geordie is Simon and Sarah's son who ran off to Canada with his cousin Jim and has not returned. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/ii) Sarah's son, a source of pride but also of pain due to his resemblance to Jim. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as one of the prodigal sons; Sarah lies about his return. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iv) Inquired about by Will; Simon reports no news. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/v) The subject of Sarah's lie; imagined as returning wealthy and happy. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/viii) Geordie is absent but central to Sarah's abandoned fantasy; she can no longer believe he might come home. ### [Part III: May](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/part-iii-may) Absent but central to the tension; May offers to bring him home. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/i) The absent son whom May hopes to bring home; his memory colors May's past and present. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/ii) His potential return is the central hope driving May's journey across the sands. ### [Part IV: Geordie-an’-Jim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/part-iv-geordie-an-jim) Central figure in this part, his return and actions are a focal point. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/ii) Geordie is remembered fondly for the fairings he brought Sarah on Martinmas and other seasons; she still keeps his gifts. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iii) Absent but central to the conversation; Jim and Sarah discuss his dreams of returning and his attachment to May. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iv) Geordie is the subject of Sarah's dark fantasy; she imagines him drowning in the tide, though she ultimately realizes the figure is not Jim. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/geordie_thornthwaite - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters