# Sadness — The Sport of the Gods character guide

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

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old Sadness, Trust old Sadness

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

## Who they are

A comic character, possibly a dog or a personification of gloom.

## Relationships

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

_psychological_

Joe is consumed by a pervasive sadness and despair that drives his self-destructive behavior and alcoholism.

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

_psychological_

Joe is consumed by a pervasive sadness and despair that drives his self-destructive behavior and alcoholism.

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

_psychological_

Joe is consumed by a pervasive sadness and despair that drives his self-destructive behavior and alcoholism.

## In the story

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

A club regular who conspires with Thomas and the proprietor to exploit Joe's money and naivety.

### [XI: Broken Hopes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xi-broken-hopes)

Offers Joe a cynical perspective on reputation and dishonour, using his own father's hanging as an example.

### [Frankenstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xiv-frankenstein)

Present at the Banner Club with Skaggs; dismissive of Joe's drunken ramblings and skeptical of Skaggs's interest in the story.

### [XV: “Dear, Damned, Delightful Town”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sport_of_the_gods_se/chapters/xv-dear-damned-delightful-town)

Visits Joe in prison and is deeply shaken by the sight of his broken state.

## Links

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