# Sylvia Marshall — There Is Confusion character guide > Sylvia Marshall in There Is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Sylvia, VII Sylvia, the Marshall **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot Joanna's younger sister, a firefly of quick wit and quicker hands, she can make one dress look like two and a dull evening look like a party. ## Who they are Sylvia Marshall is everything Joanna is not: spontaneous, socially gifted, and allergic to seriousness, with a genius for ribbons, lace, and the small economies that keep a household stylish. As girls the sisters clash — Sylvia finds Joanna's constant talk of greatness tiresome — but their differences become the ground of a deep adult friendship. Sylvia's generosity with Maggie, and her later role as Joanna's confidante, make her the novel's connective tissue between ambition, class, and ordinary kindness. ## Relationships ### [Joanna Marshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/joanna_marshall) _family_ Joanna and Sylvia are sisters, with Sylvia often serving as a grounding influence on Joanna. ### [Maggie Ellersley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/maggie_ellersley) _friendship_ Maggie and Sylvia share a warm friendship, with Sylvia often offering Maggie emotional support. ### [Philip Marshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/philip_marshall) _family_ Philip and Sylvia are siblings, with a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family pressures. ### [Joanna Marshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/joanna_marshall) _family_ Joanna and Sylvia are sisters, with Sylvia often serving as a grounding influence on Joanna. ### [Joanna Marshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/joanna_marshall) _family_ Joanna and Sylvia are sisters, with Sylvia often serving as a grounding influence on Joanna. ### [Maggie Ellersley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/maggie_ellersley) _friendship_ Maggie and Sylvia share a warm friendship, with Sylvia often offering Maggie emotional support. ### [Philip Marshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/philip_marshall) _family_ Philip and Sylvia are siblings, with a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family pressures. ### [Maggie Ellersley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/maggie_ellersley) _friendship_ Maggie and Sylvia share a warm friendship, with Sylvia often offering Maggie emotional support. ### [Philip Marshall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/philip_marshall) _family_ Philip and Sylvia are siblings, with a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family pressures. ## In the story ### [There Is Confusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/there-is-confusion) Sylvia represents a contrasting path, embodying traditional expectations and serving as a foil to Joanna's ambitions. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/i) Another of Joanna's older siblings, also described as average and lacking ambition. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/ii) Joanna's older sister, quick-witted and versatile, she contrasts with Joanna's seriousness and often scoffs at her, but shows skill in sewing and creating striking effects. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/vi) Joanna's sister, who appears briefly at the school entrance, laughing with Maggie Ellersley. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/vii) Accompanies Joanna on the errand and participates in the home dance session. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/viii) Sylvia is a member of Maggie's eighth-grade class and befriends her, showing her around the school and inviting her to join the Sunday School campaign. She represents the prosperous, respectable world Maggie longs to enter. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/ix) Sylvia naively accepts Maggie's admiration, shares her clothes and home, and shows a delicate sensitivity to Maggie's feelings. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as having met Henderson Neal and reported to Philip about Maggie's association with him. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned by Peter as an example of romantic affection, as she runs to meet her fiancé Brian and puts her arms around his neck. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xiii) Sylvia is engaged to Brian Spencer and is planning an Easter wedding. She is popular and has many friends, contrasting with Joanna's more solitary nature. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned as the designer of Joanna's stage gowns, contributing to Joanna's artistic success. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xviii) Observes Joanna's distress; forwards Peter's letter to Joanna; communicates Peter's marriage plans. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xix) Mentioned as someone who would take things less hard than Joanna; Peter eventually writes to her. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xx) Meets Joanna at the train in New York, brings her home, and helps her to bed; keeps the matter from their parents. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxi) Comforts Joanna and shares her secret with Brian Spencer; surprised by the depth of Joanna's feelings for Peter. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxvii) Briefly appears, informing Joanna of Miss Sharples' visit. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxviii) Suggests using a mask for Joanna to play 'America' in the show. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxxii) Mentioned in Philip's recollection of conversations about Maggie's early experiences. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxxiv) Mentioned as having children who visit Joanna; her son Roger lets Peter into the house. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxxv) Grieves Philip, has wistful talks with Joanna and Sandy, and her interest in her children intensifies. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xxxvi) Joanna's sister; Joanna confesses to her the deep joy she finds in ordinary life. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters/sylvia_marshall - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/there_is_confusion_se/characters