# Maurice Oakley — The Sport of the Gods character guide > Maurice Oakley in The Sport of the Gods by Paul Laurence Dunbar. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Oakley, Maurice, old Oakley **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-hamiltons ## Snapshot A prosperous Southern gentleman whose word is law in his household, Maurice Oakley accuses his trusted butler of theft and never once doubts the rightness of his judgment. ## Who they are Oakley is a solid man of business who hosts the town's best company and dotes on his charming brother Francis, arranging parties to send him off in style. When money goes missing, he converts two decades of faithful service into a single damning sentence, and his refusal to hear Berry's plea exposes how completely a black servant's life hangs on a white employer's certainty. His accusation is the hinge on which the entire Hamilton family's ruin turns. ## Relationships ### [Francis Oakley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/francis_oakley) _family_ Francis and Maurice are brothers, with Francis being the more privileged and Maurice the one who falsely accuses Berry Hamilton. ### [Berry Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/berry_hamilton) _rivalry_ Maurice Oakley falsely accuses Berry of theft, leading to Berry's imprisonment and the destruction of his family. ### [Fannie Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/fannie_hamilton) _rivalry_ Fannie is the victim of Maurice Oakley's false accusation against her husband, which destroys her family's stability. ### [Lady Leslie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/lady_leslie) _social_ Lady Leslie is a socialite acquaintance of Maurice, representing the wealthy white society that enables his actions. ### [Mr. Skaggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/mr_skaggs) _professional_ Mr. Skaggs collaborates with Maurice to uncover the truth about Berry's innocence, but with self-serving motives. ### [Joe Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/joe_hamilton) _rivalry_ Joe resents Maurice for destroying his family, though their direct conflict is more symbolic than personal. ### [Colonel Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/colonel_saunders) _social_ Colonel Saunders is a Southern gentleman and acquaintance of Maurice, representing the old guard of white aristocracy. ### [Mr. Skaggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/mr_skaggs) _professional_ Mr. Skaggs collaborates with Maurice to uncover the truth about Berry's innocence, but with self-serving motives. ### [Berry Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/berry_hamilton) _rivalry_ Maurice Oakley falsely accuses Berry of theft, leading to Berry's imprisonment and the destruction of his family. ### [Colonel Saunders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/colonel_saunders) _social_ Colonel Saunders is a Southern gentleman and acquaintance of Maurice, representing the old guard of white aristocracy. ### [Francis Oakley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/francis_oakley) _family_ Francis and Maurice are brothers, with Francis being the more privileged and Maurice the one who falsely accuses Berry Hamilton. ### [Francis Oakley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/francis_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) Berry's employer; owner of the great house; preparing a farewell dinner for his brother Francis. ### [A Farewell Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-a-farewell-dinner) Hosts the farewell dinner for his brother Francis; is conservative, adaptable, and deeply fond of Francis; notices the theft but urges Francis to hide it for the evening. ### [III: The Theft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii-the-theft) Takes charge of the situation, calls the police, and quickly concludes that Berry Hamilton is guilty based on circumstantial evidence. ### [From a Clear Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-from-a-clear-sky) Maurice is angry and determined, insisting on Berry's arrest despite the detective's advice and his brother's plea for leniency. ### [V: The Justice of Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-justice-of-men) Grim and relentless in court; evicts Fannie Hamilton from the cottage after the trial. ### [VI: Outcasts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi-outcasts) Maurice Oakley observes the Hamiltons' departure with satisfaction, having pressured Fannie to move after Berry's conviction. ### [XIII: The Oakleys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xiii-the-oakleys) Maurice becomes more distrustful and testy with servants; receives Francis's confession letter and suffers a collapse; resolves to conceal the truth to protect the family name. ### [XVI: Skaggs's Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xvi-skaggs-s-theory) Described as a recluse with a guilty secret; he carries something in a secret pocket and is confronted by Skaggs. ### [XVII: A Yellow Journal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xvii-a-yellow-journal) Descends into madness, raving his secret openly, bringing shame upon his family. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/maurice_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