# Taffy — Trilby character guide

> Taffy in Trilby by George du Maurier.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Taffy, big Taffy, the good Taffy, Taffy Wynne

**First appearance:** 0000-part-iv-part-v-little-billee

## Snapshot

A big, good-natured artist whose strength and steadiness anchor the studio, though he is quietly undone by his friends' departure.

## Who they are

Taffy is the reliable center of the Paris circle, the one who boxes and fences and keeps the studio running when others drift. After Trilby and Little Billee leave, he and the Laird drift into sad lunches at the Café de l'Odéon and respectable dinners 'like gentlemen,' going through the motions of ordinary life. His softening forearms and mopey routines show how deeply the loss of those two charming presences has unsettled him.

## Relationships

### [Little Billee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/little_billee)

_friendship_

Little Billee and Taffy are close, loyal friends and fellow art students who support each other through various trials.

### [Trilby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/trilby)

_friendship_

Taffy is a protective and caring friend to Trilby, often acting as a guardian figure within their circle.

### [Svengali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/svengali)

_rivalry_

Svengali and Taffy are antagonistic, with Taffy often confronting Svengali over his mistreatment of Trilby.

### [The Laird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/the_laird)

_friendship_

Taffy and The Laird are close friends and fellow artists, sharing a bond of camaraderie and mutual support.

### [Gecko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/gecko)

_friendship_

Gecko is a violinist and friend to Taffy, often caught between loyalty to Svengali and sympathy for the others.

### [Little Billee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/little_billee)

_friendship_

Little Billee and Taffy are close, loyal friends and fellow art students who support each other through various trials.

### [Svengali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/svengali)

_rivalry_

Svengali and Taffy are antagonistic, with Taffy often confronting Svengali over his mistreatment of Trilby.

### [Little Billee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/little_billee)

_friendship_

Little Billee and Taffy are close, loyal friends and fellow art students who support each other through various trials.

### [Trilby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/trilby)

_friendship_

Taffy is a protective and caring friend to Trilby, often acting as a guardian figure within their circle.

### [The Laird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/the_laird)

_friendship_

Taffy and The Laird are close friends and fellow artists, sharing a bond of camaraderie and mutual support.

### [Svengali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/svengali)

_rivalry_

Svengali and Taffy are antagonistic, with Taffy often confronting Svengali over his mistreatment of Trilby.

### [Gecko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/gecko)

_friendship_

Gecko is a violinist and friend to Taffy, often caught between loyalty to Svengali and sympathy for the others.

## In the story

### [Part V: Little Billee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/chapters/part-iv-part-v-little-billee)

Feels desolation and bereavement after Trilby and Little Billee leave; sinks into demoralization and eventually leaves Paris.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters/taffy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trilby_se/characters