An American Tragedy · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.
Clyde Griffiths
major
Also known as Clyde, Griffiths, Mr. Clyde Griffiths, young Griffiths, Mr. Griffiths
Ambitious young man from a poor family who seeks wealth and status in Lycurgus.
Roberta Alden
major
Also known as Roberta, Miss Alden, Bobbie, Miss Roberta Alden
A factory worker who becomes romantically involved with Clyde, with tragic consequences.
Sondra Finchley
major
Also known as Sondra, Sondra Finchley, the beautiful Sondra Finchley, Finchley
Wealthy socialite who captivates Clyde and represents his aspirations.
Hortense Briggs
supporting
Also known as Hortense, this Hortense Briggs, the beautiful Hortense, Briggs
A flirtatious and manipulative young woman in Clyde's early life.
Samuel Griffiths
supporting
Also known as Samuel, Mr. Samuel Griffiths, the Griffiths, Mr. Griffiths
Clyde's wealthy uncle and owner of the collar factory in Lycurgus.
Gilbert Griffiths
supporting
Also known as Gilbert, young Griffiths, Mr. Gilbert Griffiths, Gil
Clyde's cousin and manager at the family collar factory.
Asa Griffiths
supporting
Also known as Asa, Mrs. Griffiths, Mrs. Asa Griffiths
Clyde's devout and struggling parents who run a mission.
Esta Griffiths
supporting
Also known as Esta
Clyde's older sister who runs away and faces hardship.
Orville Mason
supporting
Also known as Mr. Mason, Mason, Orville W. Mason, Orville
The district attorney who prosecutes Clyde for murder.
Alvin Belknap
supporting
Also known as Belknap, Mr. Belknap, Alvin, one Hon. Alvin Belknap
A defense lawyer who represents Clyde during his trial.
Reuben Jephson
supporting
Also known as Jephson, Mr. Reuben Jephson, Mr. Jephson, Reuben
A young lawyer assisting Belknap in Clyde's defense.
Bella Griffiths
supporting
Also known as Bella, Arabella, Bella Griffiths
Clyde's cousin and a member of the wealthy Griffiths family.
Thomas Ratterer
supporting
Also known as Tommy, Ratterer, Tom
A bellhop and friend of Clyde during his time at the hotel.
Oscar Hegglund
minor
Also known as Oscar, Hegglund, Oscar Hegglund
A bellhop colleague of Clyde in Chicago.
Bert Gettler
minor
Also known as Bert, Gettler, Gil, Bob
A friend and fellow bellhop of Clyde.
Walter Dillard
minor
Also known as Dillard, young Dillard, Walter
A bellhop acquaintance of Clyde.
Willard Sparser
minor
Also known as Sparser, Willard, the unfortunate Sparser
A friend of Clyde's from his hotel days.
Myra Griffiths
minor
Also known as Myra
Clyde's younger sister.
Jill Trumbull
minor
Also known as Jill, Miss Jill Trumbull, Miss Trumbull
A socialite friend of Sondra Finchley.
Bertine Cranston
minor
Also known as Bertine, Bertine Cranston, Cranston
A wealthy young woman in Lycurgus society.
Titus Alden
minor
Also known as Titus, Alden, the saddened Titus
Roberta's father, a poor farmer.
Louise Ratterer
minor
Also known as Louise, Louise Ratterer
Thomas Ratterer's sister.
Constance Wynant
minor
Also known as Constance, Constance Wynant
A young woman in Lycurgus social circles.
Fred Heit
minor
Also known as Fred, Heit
A coroner involved in the investigation.
Laura Sipe
minor
Also known as Laura, Laura Sipe
A woman who testifies at Clyde's trial.
Duncan McMillan
supporting
Also known as the Reverend McMillan, McMillan, the Rev. Duncan McMillan, Reverend McMillan
A reverend who provides spiritual counsel to Clyde in prison.
Orrin Short
minor
Also known as Orrin Short, Short
A friend of Clyde's from his hotel days.
Governor Waltham
minor
Also known as Governor Waltham, Waltham
The governor who considers Clyde's clemency appeal.
Nina Temple
minor
Also known as Nina, Nina Temple
A young woman in Lycurgus society.
Earl Newcomb
minor
Also known as Earl, Earl Newcomb, Newcomb
A bellhop colleague of Clyde.
Davis Higby
minor
Also known as Davis Higby, Higby, Davis
A supervisor at the collar factory.
Stuart Finchley
minor
Also known as Stuart, Stuart Finchley, Stew
Sondra's brother.
Clifford Golden
minor
Also known as Clifford Golden, Clifford, Golden, Carl Graham
A man who resembles Clyde and is mentioned in the trial.
Rita Dickerman
minor
Also known as Rita, Rita Dickerman, the discarded Rita
A young woman Clyde becomes involved with in Lycurgus.
Gertrude Trumbull
minor
Also known as Gertrude, Gertrude Trumbull
A member of the Trumbull family in Lycurgus.
Burton Burleigh
minor
Also known as Burton, Burton Burleigh, Burleigh
A detective who investigates Roberta's death.
Greta Miller
minor
Also known as Greta Miller, Greta
A friend of Roberta's at the factory.
Grant Cranston
minor
Also known as young Grant Cranston, Cranston, Grant, Grant Cranston
A wealthy young man in Lycurgus society.
Maida Axelrod
minor
Also known as Maida, Maida Axelrod
A young woman in Lycurgus social circles.
Darrah Brookhart
minor
Also known as Darrah Brookhart, Mr. Brookhart, Brookhart
A businessman in Lycurgus.
Joshua Whiggam
minor
Also known as Joshua Whiggam, Whiggam
A factory worker at the collar company.
Arthur Kinsella
minor
Also known as Kinsella, Arthur Kinsella
A detective involved in the case.
Miller Nicholson
minor
Also known as Miller Nicholson, Nicholson
A lawyer who assists the prosecution.
Harley Baggott
minor
Also known as Harley Baggott, Harley, Baggott
A young man in Lycurgus society.
Julia Griffiths
minor
Also known as Julia, Julie
Clyde's aunt, Samuel Griffiths' wife.
Zella Shuman
minor
Also known as Zella, Zella Shuman
A friend of Roberta's at the factory.
Fred Gabel
minor
Also known as Fred Gabel, Gabel, Fred
A bellhop colleague of Clyde.
Doris Trine
minor
Also known as Doris Trine, Doris
A young woman in Lycurgus society.
Tina Kogel
minor
Also known as Tina Kogel, Kit
A young woman Clyde meets in Lycurgus.
Pasquale Cutrone
minor
Also known as Pasquale Cutrone, Pasquale, Cutrone
A bellhop colleague of Clyde.
Tracy Trumbull
minor
Also known as Tracy, Tracy Trumbull
A member of the Trumbull family.
Arabella Stark
minor
Also known as Arabella Stark, Stark, Bella
A young woman in Lycurgus society.
Burchard Taylor
minor
Also known as Burchard Taylor, Burchard, Taylor
A young man in Lycurgus.
Charlie Wilkens
minor
Also known as Wilkens, Charlie, Charlie Wilkens
A bellhop acquaintance of Clyde.
Wallace Trone
minor
Also known as Wallace Trone, the gifted Trone, Wallace
A friend of Clyde's from his hotel days.
Elvira Griffiths
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Griffiths, Mrs. Elvira Griffiths, Elvira
Clyde's mother, a devout and determined woman.
Paul Shiel
minor
Also known as Shiel, Paul Shiel, Paul
A bellhop colleague of Clyde.
Ed Swenk
minor
Also known as young Swenk, Swenk, Ed Swenk
A bellhop friend of Clyde.
Emily Griffiths
minor
Also known as Emily, Em
Clyde's younger sister.
David Waltham
minor
Also known as Dave, David, the Hon. David Waltham
A politician involved in Clyde's case.
Scott Nicholson
minor
Also known as Scott Nicholson, Scott
A lawyer involved in the trial.
Legare Atterbury
minor
Also known as Legare Atterbury, Atterbury
A wealthy man in Lycurgus.
Wynette Phant
minor
Also known as Wynette, Wynette Phant
A young woman in Lycurgus society.
Frederick Sells
minor
Also known as Freddie Sells, Freddie, Fred, Frederick, Frederick Sells
A bellhop colleague of Clyde.
Martha Bordaloue
minor
Also known as Martha, Martha Bordaloue
A woman who testifies at the trial.
Violet Taylor
minor
Also known as VI, Violet Taylor, Violet
A young woman in Lycurgus.
Zillah Saunders
minor
Also known as Zillah Saunders, Zillah
A young woman in Lycurgus society.
Larry Doyle
minor
Also known as Doyle, Larry Doyle
A man who testifies at Clyde's trial.
Nadine Harriet
minor
Also known as Nadine, Nadine Harriet, Harriet
A young woman in Lycurgus.
Perley Haynes
minor
Also known as Perley Haynes
A witness in the trial.
Tom Keary
minor
Also known as Keary, Tom Keary
A young man mentioned in Lycurgus social circles.
George Newton
minor
Also known as George Newton, Newton, George
A man in Lycurgus society.
Thomas Lucas
minor
Also known as Thomas Lucas, Tom
A bellhop acquaintance of Clyde.
Kittie Keane
minor
Also known as Kittie Keane, Kittie
A young woman in Lycurgus.
Vanda Steele
minor
Also known as Vanda Steele, Miss Vanda Steele, Vanda
A young woman in Lycurgus society.
Blanche Locke
minor
Also known as Blanche Locke
A young woman in Lycurgus.
Edna Patterson
minor
Also known as Edna Patterson
A young woman in Lycurgus.
Elizabeth Griffiths
minor
Also known as Bettina, Libby, Elizabeth Griffiths
Clyde's cousin.
