# Stephen Tworkowski — Women character guide

> Stephen Tworkowski in Women by Zofia Nałkowska.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Stephen, Dear Stephen

**First appearance:** 0000-i-ice-plains

## Snapshot

A gay, self-diagnosing pessimist who theorizes about women's love while quietly unraveling over his own, and calls it tragic optimism.

## Who they are

Stephen is the narrator's confidant and the salon's resident ironist, the man addressed as "Dear Stephen" who can pivot from mocking doctrinaire artists to confessing a love affair he knows has no morrow. He insists woman's need for permanent love contradicts men's instincts, yet his own letters betray ecstatic delight and black-moth self-reproach in equal measure. His running debate about whether this is love or merely loneliness gives the novel's central question its sharpest, most self-aware voice.

## Relationships

### [Gina Wartoslawska](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/gina_wartoslawska)

_romantic_

Gina and Stephen are involved in a tumultuous love affair, filled with attraction and conflict.

### [Genka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/genka)

_romantic_

Genka is infatuated with Stephen, pursuing him despite his involvement with Gina.

### [Wiazewski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/wiazewski)

_rivalry_

Stephen and Wiazewski are competitors for social status and romantic attention, often clashing.

### [Wiazewski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/wiazewski)

_rivalry_

Stephen and Wiazewski are competitors for social status and romantic attention, often clashing.

### [Gina Wartoslawska](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/gina_wartoslawska)

_romantic_

Gina and Stephen are involved in a tumultuous love affair, filled with attraction and conflict.

### [Wiazewski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/wiazewski)

_rivalry_

Stephen and Wiazewski are competitors for social status and romantic attention, often clashing.

### [Gina Wartoslawska](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/gina_wartoslawska)

_romantic_

Gina and Stephen are involved in a tumultuous love affair, filled with attraction and conflict.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters/stephen_tworkowski
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/women_se/characters