# Mr. Thomas — The Sport of the Gods character guide

> Mr. Thomas in The Sport of the Gods by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. William Thomas, Thomas, old Thomas, Tom

**First appearance:** 0007-viii-an-evening-out

## Snapshot

A self-styled New Yorker and back-alley Don Juan who introduces the Hamiltons to the city's pleasures with a porter's confidence and a glass of beer.

## Who they are

Mr. Thomas is the first New York acquaintance the Hamilton family makes, a loquacious club man and theatrical hanger-on who offers Joe a taste of metropolitan life before Joe has any idea what it will cost. His easy generosity — crabs, beer, promises to show them Coney Island — is genuine enough, but it comes wrapped in a self-regard that flatters Joe and unsettles Kitty. He is the doorway through which the family's new world opens, and the reader senses early that the door swings both ways.

## Relationships

### [Joe Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/joe_hamilton)

_professional_

Mr. Thomas is Joe's employer at a New York club, exploiting Joe's talent as a singer while enabling his vices.

### [Kitty Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/kitty_hamilton)

_professional_

Mr. Thomas employs Kitty as a performer, but his interest in her is predatory and manipulative.

### [Kitty Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/kitty_hamilton)

_professional_

Mr. Thomas employs Kitty as a performer, but his interest in her is predatory and manipulative.

### [Joe Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/joe_hamilton)

_professional_

Mr. Thomas is Joe's employer at a New York club, exploiting Joe's talent as a singer while enabling his vices.

### [Kitty Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/kitty_hamilton)

_professional_

Mr. Thomas employs Kitty as a performer, but his interest in her is predatory and manipulative.

### [Joe Hamilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/joe_hamilton)

_professional_

Mr. Thomas is Joe's employer at a New York club, exploiting Joe's talent as a singer while enabling his vices.

## In the story

### [VII: In New York](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii-in-new-york)

Mr. Thomas is a loquacious, self-confident porter who boasts about New York's attractions. He offers to show Joe around and is openly admiring of Kitty, but is rebuffed by her coolness.

### [An Evening Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/viii-an-evening-out)

Arranges seating to sit beside Kitty; introduces her to his friends; attempts to hold her hand; disappointed by her rejection.

### [His Heart's Desire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ix-his-heart-s-desire)

Manipulatively cultivates Joe to win Kitty's affections; introduces Joe to the Banner Club and its predatory members.

### [All the World's a Stage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xii-all-the-world-s-a-stage)

Waits for Kitty at the stage door but is stopped by her cold look, reflecting on her newfound nerve.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/characters/mr_thomas
- 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