You Never Can Tell · Character

Gloria Clandon

Mrs. Clandon's eldest daughter, raised to prize reason over romance, finds her cool self-possession unsettled when a young dentist kisses her on the terrace and she discovers she liked it.

major

Also known as Gloria, Gloria Advancing, Gloria Rising, Gloria Unmoved, Gloria Dread, Gloria White, Gloria Angrily, Gloria Coldly, Gloria Hastily, Gloria Proudly, Gloria Nervously, Gloria Puzzled, Gloria Nagging, Gloria Weakness, Miss Gloria, Gloria Mr. Crampton, Gloria Flushing, Valentine Gloria, Gloria Phil

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Gloria has been educated to be rational, self-possessed, and devoted to serious causes, and she carries herself with a composure that makes her seem older than her years. When Valentine kisses her publicly and she does not repel him, her mother's confidence in her training is shaken, and Gloria herself must confront feelings she has always dismissed as beneath her. Her struggle between the principles she was raised on and the unexpected pull of attraction makes her the emotional center of the play's examination of love, upbringing, and self-knowledge.

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Character Web

13 connections

A slice of how Gloria Clandon sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Social
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Main family and associates

+8 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Breaking point

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak of Crampton’s submission and the rev…

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Relationships

Mrs. Clandon
family · ambivalent
A mother-daughter relationship strained by differing views on independence and… How this plays out →
William
family · positive
Waiter
social · positive
Mr. Crampton
family · negative
Philip McComas
social · ambivalent
Dolly Clandon
family · positive
The Young Lady
social · ambivalent

Mrs. Clandon
A mother-daughter relationship strained by differing views on independence and traditional values.
William
Siblings with a teasing, affectionate bond, though William often feels overshadowed by Gloria's strong personality.
Waiter
A courteous but distant service relationship, with Gloria treating the waiter with polite formality.
Mr. Crampton
A tense and estranged father-daughter relationship, filled with resentment and a struggle for recognition.
Philip McComas
A respectful but distant acquaintance, as McComas is more aligned with her mother's authority.
Dolly Clandon
Sisters with a close, affectionate bond, though Dolly often finds Gloria too serious.
The Young Lady
A brief and superficial acquaintance, with Gloria showing polite disinterest.

Relationship notes

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