# Mr. Charles Phillipps — The Three Impostors character guide

> Mr. Charles Phillipps in The Three Impostors by Arthur Machen.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Phillipps, Phillipps

**First appearance:** 0000-prologue

## Snapshot

A scientific rationalist and reluctant Good Samaritan who wants every marvel explained, yet keeps finding himself seated beside weeping strangers.

## Who they are

Phillipps shares Dyson's idle Bohemia but not his credulity, insisting literature and life alike must answer to physical science and ethnology. His composure is tested when a distressed young woman on a park bench draws him into her tale of a lost brother, and his awkward gallantry wars with his instinct to flee. As the rational half of the friendship, he matters because the stranger the events become, the harder he must work to keep his scientific footing.

## Relationships

### [Professor Gregg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/professor_gregg)

_rivalry_

Mr. Charles Phillipps and Professor Gregg are antagonists, with Phillipps opposing Gregg's dark occult activities.

### [Professor Gregg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/professor_gregg)

_rivalry_

Mr. Charles Phillipps and Professor Gregg are antagonists, with Phillipps opposing Gregg's dark occult activities.

## In the story

### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/prologue)

Companion to Dyson; observes the house and engages in moralizing conversation.

### [Adventure of the Gold Tiberius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/adventure-of-the-gold-tiberius)

A student of physical science and ethnologist, he is skeptical of Dyson's romantic interpretation of the events and prefers to rely on reason.

### [Adventure of the Missing Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/adventure-of-the-missing-brother)

The protagonist of the chapter, a scientific materialist who initially dismisses the woman's story but becomes intrigued by the mention of Professor Gregg.

### [Adventure of the Deserted Residence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/adventure-of-the-deserted-residence)

Accompanies Dyson on the walk, notices the smell of burning flesh, and shares in the horror of the discovery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/mr_charles_phillipps
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters