# Francis Oakley — The Sport of the Gods character guide

> Francis Oakley in The Sport of the Gods by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Francis, Frank, Frank Oakley, Mistah Frank

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-hamiltons

## Snapshot

Francis Oakley is the handsome, magnetic brother Maurice adores, a painter whose charm and weakness make him the household's favorite and its most carefully watched secret.

## Who they are

Francis is the life of every gathering, a poet-faced artist with wit, daring, and just enough hinted danger to make him irresistible, especially to Claire Lessing, whom Maurice and his wife would love to see him marry. His family frets over the freedoms of his Latin Quarter life and wishes they could hedge him about from temptation, though they insist their faith in his manhood is perfect. That blend of adoration and unease around Francis shadows the Oakley household long before anyone names what it is protecting.

## Relationships

### [Maurice Oakley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/maurice_oakley)

_family_

Francis and Maurice are brothers, with Francis being the more privileged and Maurice the one who falsely accuses Berry Hamilton.

### [Maurice Oakley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/maurice_oakley)

_family_

Francis and Maurice are brothers, with Francis being the more privileged and Maurice the one who falsely accuses Berry Hamilton.

### [Maurice Oakley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/maurice_oakley)

_family_

Francis and Maurice are brothers, with Francis being the more privileged and Maurice the one who falsely accuses Berry Hamilton.

## In the story

### [The Hamiltons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-hamiltons)

Brother of Maurice Oakley; the farewell dinner is being held in his honor.

### [A Farewell Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-a-farewell-dinner)

The guest of honor, a handsome artist returning to Paris; discovers his money stolen but conceals his distress during the dinner; later arranges to speak with Maurice privately.

### [III: The Theft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii-the-theft)

Discovers his money missing; defends Berry Hamilton but is visibly shaken and reluctant to be involved in the investigation.

### [From a Clear Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-from-a-clear-sky)

Francis departs by train, shaking Berry's hand and asking his brother to be merciful, but he is absent when the arrest occurs.

### [XIII: The Oakleys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xiii-the-oakleys)

Writes a confession letter from Paris admitting he took the money and that Berry is innocent; expresses regret and fear of facing his brother.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/francis_oakley
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters