# Stephanie Platow — The Titan character guide

> Stephanie Platow in The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Stephanie, Platow

**First appearance:** 0023-xxiv-the-coming-of-stephanie-platow

## Snapshot

A young actress of brooding, artistic charm, she becomes one of Cowperwood's most serious affairs—elusive, naive, and maddeningly hard to read.

## Who they are

Stephanie moves in the Garrick Players' orbit, all soulfulness and dramatic ambition, and Cowperwood is drawn to her precisely because she resists his usual methods. He learns she is not the innocent he assumed, and her calm, inconsequential confession of a past affair both shocks and fascinates him. Her ingrained irresponsibility and artistic vagueness make her unlike any woman in his orbit, and the affair becomes a study in how little he actually controls the people he desires.

## Relationships

### [Forbes Gurney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/forbes_gurney)

_romantic_

Forbes Gurney is a young artist who becomes infatuated with Stephanie, competing with Frank for her attention.

### [Forbes Gurney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/forbes_gurney)

_romantic_

Forbes Gurney is a young artist who becomes infatuated with Stephanie, competing with Frank for her attention.

### [Forbes Gurney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/forbes_gurney)

_romantic_

Forbes Gurney is a young artist who becomes infatuated with Stephanie, competing with Frank for her attention.

## In the story

### [An Overture to Conflict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xvii-an-overture-to-conflict)

Mentioned as one of Cowperwood's past affairs, though not central to this chapter.

### [The Coming of Stephanie Platow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxiv-the-coming-of-stephanie-platow)

A young, artistic, and passionate woman who becomes involved with the Garrick Players and begins a sexual relationship with Gardner Knowles; she is drawn to Cowperwood's world.

### [Airs from the Orient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxv-airs-from-the-orient)

Receives jade gifts from Cowperwood and visits his home, engaging in a flirtatious and artistic conversation.

### [Love and War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxvi-love-and-war)

Reveals her dramatic ambitions and past with Gardner Knowles; becomes Cowperwood's lover.

### [XXVII: A Financier Bewitched](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxvii-a-financier-bewitched)

An artistic, free-spirited young woman who loves Cowperwood but also enjoys the attention of other men, including Gardner Knowles, Lane Cross, and Forbes Gurney.

### [XXVIII: The Exposure of Stephanie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxviii-the-exposure-of-stephanie)

Exposed for her affair with Forbes Gurney; she is frightened and regretful as Cowperwood dismisses her.

### [A Family Quarrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxix-a-family-quarrel)

Her affair with Cowperwood is revealed to Aileen through Mrs. Platow's mention of a jade gift.

### [XLVI: Depths and Heights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xlvi-depths-and-heights)

Mentioned as a past affair that Cowperwood cannot assume with Berenice.

### [LVII: Aileen’s Last Card](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lvii-aileen-s-last-card)

Mentioned as one of Cowperwood's past affairs that Aileen assumed existed.

### [LXII: The Recompense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lxii-the-recompense)

Referenced indirectly as part of Cowperwood's past affairs that have contributed to his current solitude.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/stephanie_platow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters