# Tristrem Varick — The Truth About Tristrem Varick character guide > Tristrem Varick in The Truth About Tristrem Varick by Edgar Saltus. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Varick, V Tristrem, And Tristrem **First appearance:** 0002-the-truth-about-tristrem-varick ## Snapshot A gentle, over-educated heir whose father left him a Panama hat, a bundle of letters, and nothing else, and whose refusal to contest the will branded him eccentric long before it branded him tragic. ## Who they are Tristrem is the only son of Erastus Varick, raised on ample funds and a liberal education that fitted him for everything except the money-getting age he lives in. When his father's seven-million-dollar estate goes to a hospital and he is bequeathed only a hat and some letters, he accepts the slight without a fight, a piece of old-world folly his world never forgives. His finer-than-ordinary fibre, the thing that sets him apart from the herd, is precisely what makes his friendships and his judgment so dangerously absolute. ## Relationships ### [Miss Raritan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/miss_raritan) _psychological_ Miss Raritan is obsessively fixated on Tristrem Varick, manipulating events to control his fate. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/the_girl) _romantic_ The Girl is deeply in love with Tristrem Varick, sharing a passionate and devoted bond. ### [Royal Weldon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/royal_weldon) _rivalry_ Royal Weldon is a jealous and competitive antagonist to Tristrem Varick, often clashing with him. ### [Viola Raritan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/viola_raritan) _romantic_ Tristrem Varick and Viola Raritan share a romantic attraction, though it is complicated by external forces. ### [Mr. Dirck Van Norden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/mr_dirck_van_norden) _friendship_ Mr. Dirck Van Norden is a loyal and supportive friend to Tristrem Varick, offering counsel and aid. ### [Alphabet Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/alphabet_jones) _friendship_ Alphabet Jones is a quirky but steadfast companion to Tristrem Varick, sharing adventures and secrets. ### [Mrs. Weldon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/mrs_weldon) _social_ Mrs. Weldon is a society matron who interacts with Tristrem Varick in formal social settings. ### [Mrs. Manhattan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/mrs_manhattan) _social_ Mrs. Manhattan is a socialite acquaintance of Tristrem Varick, moving in the same circles. ### [Ledyard Yorke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/ledyard_yorke) _professional_ Ledyard Yorke is a business associate or colleague of Tristrem Varick, involved in professional dealings. ### [Mr. Yorke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/mr_yorke) _professional_ Mr. Yorke is a professional contact of Tristrem Varick, likely in legal or financial matters. ### [Miss Raritan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/miss_raritan) _psychological_ Miss Raritan is obsessively fixated on Tristrem Varick, manipulating events to control his fate. ### [Royal Weldon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/royal_weldon) _rivalry_ Royal Weldon is a jealous and competitive antagonist to Tristrem Varick, often clashing with him. ## In the story ### [The Truth About Tristrem Varick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/the-truth-about-tristrem-varick) The protagonist whose family history and engagement are unraveled; he learns the truth about his mother's death and his father's actions. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/i) Protagonist; a sensitive, just, and appreciative boy who grows into a man of unusual integrity, later giving away his inheritance. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/ii) Returns to New York after five years abroad; attends dinner at the Weldons' and is captivated by Miss Raritan's singing. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/iii) Described as virginal in love, he experiences crystallization after meeting Miss Raritan. He is nervous and rehearses speeches, showing his inexperience. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/iv) Continues to visit Miss Raritan frequently, enduring her dismissive treatment and confessing his love despite knowing it is not returned. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/v) Feels isolated and oppressed by the romantic atmosphere of the city; discovers Weldon's lie and confronts the betrayal; proposes to and is accepted by Miss Raritan. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/vi) Awakens in love, dreams of Viola, announces engagement to his father, visits his grandfather, and is absurdly happy. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/vii) Travels to Newport to surprise Viola, experiences a vivid nightmare about Truth. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/viii) Leaves the Raritan cottage after a tense farewell, races to catch a train, encounters Weldon on the journey, and returns home to learn of his father's death. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/ix) Receives the letter breaking his engagement and the returned jewels; is bewildered and anguished, then learns of his father's will with indifference. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/x) Lifeless and apathetic after discovering the letters and the broken engagement; later revived by his grandfather's defense of his mother's honor. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xi) Travels to Narragansett, discovers the Raritans have left, and resolves to follow Viola to Europe. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xii) Travels to Europe, becomes melancholic near the Irish coast, contemplates the sea's allure, rebuffs the young woman's advances, and defends his idealistic view of love. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xiii) Arrives in London, searches for Viola across Europe, receives cables, and continues his pursuit. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xiv) Collapses upon seeing Viola's portrait as the Sphinx; later recalls the handkerchief clue and realizes the truth about Viola's secret. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xv) Tristrem murders Royal Weldon with a thin knife, then travels back to New York in a dissociative state. He struggles with an obsessive compulsion to confront Weldon, ultimately carrying out the killing. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xvi) Struggles with guilt and justification after killing Weldon; visits Viola hoping for gratitude but is met with horror. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xvii) Confesses to murdering Weldon, refuses to explain motive or defend himself, and is deemed sane by a committee. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/tristrem_varick - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters