Character guide

George F. Babbitt

major

Also known as Babbitt, Georgie Babbitt, Mr. Babbitt, George Follansbee Babbitt

A prosperous real estate broker in Zenith, struggling with conformity and middle-aged discontent.

Myra Babbitt

major

Also known as Mrs. Babbitt, Myra Thompson

George's devoted but conventional wife, who manages their household and social life.

Paul Riesling

major

Also known as Paul, Riesling, Mr. Riesling

George's best friend, a sensitive violinist trapped in an unhappy marriage.

Theodore Roosevelt Babbitt

supporting

Also known as Ted, Ted Babbitt, Little Theodore

George's rebellious teenage son, who challenges his father's values and expectations.

Verona Babbitt

supporting

Also known as Verona

George's earnest and intellectual daughter, involved in progressive causes.

Tinka Babbitt

minor

Also known as Tinka

George's youngest child, a sweet and affectionate little girl.

Zilla Riesling

supporting

Also known as Zilla, Mrs. Riesling, Zilla Colbeck

Paul's shrewish and demanding wife, whose nagging drives him to despair.

Tanis Judique

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Judique, Tanis

A bohemian widow who becomes George's mistress during his rebellious phase.

Chum Frink

supporting

Also known as Frink, T. Cholmondeley Frink, Mr. Frink

A poet and advertising man, part of Babbitt's social circle and the Boosters.

Virgil Gunch

supporting

Also known as Gunch, Verg Gunch, Mr. Gunch

A loud, boosterish coal dealer and Babbitt's friend in the Athletic Club.

Howard Littlefield

supporting

Also known as Littlefield, Dr. Howard Littlefield

Babbitt's neighbor, a pedantic school principal and amateur economist.

Seneca Doane

supporting

Also known as Doane, Mr. Seneca Doane, Senny Doane

A liberal lawyer and Babbitt's college classmate, often criticized by the Boosters.

Stanley Graff

minor

Also known as Stan Graff, Graff, Young Graff

A young, ambitious salesman in Babbitt's real estate office.

Louetta Swanson

minor

Also known as Mrs. Swanson, Louetta Swanson

A flirtatious society woman and friend of the Babbitts.

Eddie Swanson

minor

Also known as Swanson, Eddie

Louetta's husband, a car salesman and Babbitt's acquaintance.

Sir Gerald Doak

minor

Also known as Sir Gerald, Doak, Gerald Doak

An English visitor to Zenith who befriends Babbitt during his rebellious period.

Kenneth Escott

supporting

Also known as Escott, Ken, Ken Escott

A young reporter who courts and later marries Verona Babbitt.

Theresa McGoun

minor

Also known as Miss McGoun, McGoun

Babbitt's efficient and loyal secretary at the real estate office.

Charley McKelvey

minor

Also known as McKelvey, Charles McKelvey, Mrs. Charles McKelvey

A wealthy contractor and social climber in Zenith's elite circle.

Verg Gunch

minor

Also known as Verg, Gunch

A variant name for Virgil Gunch, used in club contexts.

Dr. A. I. Dilling

minor

Also known as Dr. Dilling, Dilling

A physician and member of Babbitt's social set.

William Washington Eathorne

minor

Also known as Eathorne, Mr. Eathorne

An elderly, conservative banker and pillar of Zenith society.

Carrie Nork

minor

Also known as Carrie, Mrs. Carrie Nork

A friend of Myra Babbitt, part of the women's social circle.

Healey Hanson

minor

Also known as Hanson, Mr. Hanson

A real estate competitor of Babbitt's in Zenith.

Rev. Dr. John Jennison Drew

minor

Also known as Dr. Drew, Reverend Drew, Doc Drew

The pastor of Babbitt's church, a popular and conventional preacher.

Orville Jones

minor

Also known as Jones, Mr. Jones, Orvy

A fellow member of the Boosters' Club and Babbitt's acquaintance.

Sidney Finkelstein

minor

Also known as Sid, Finkelstein, Mr. Finkelstein

A Jewish tailor and member of the Boosters' Club.

Henry T. Thompson

minor

Also known as Henry Thompson, Hank, Old Henry T.

Myra's father and Babbitt's former business partner.

Joe Paradise

minor

Also known as Joe

A guide at the Maine camp where Babbitt vacations with Paul.

Sheldon Smeeth

minor

Also known as Smeeth, young Mr. Smeeth

A pious young man active in the church and Sunday school.

Professor Joseph K. Pumphrey

minor

Also known as Professor Pumphrey, Joe Pumphrey, Pumphrey

A pompous elocution teacher and member of the Boosters.

Pete Menutti

minor

Also known as Pete, young Pete

A young man in Babbitt's office, later involved in a scandal.

Ida Putiak

minor

Also known as Ida, Miss Ida Putiak

A manicurist at the hotel where Babbitt briefly flirts with her.

Jake Offutt

minor

Also known as Offutt, Jake, Jacob

A shady political fixer and acquaintance of Babbitt.

Cecil Rountree

minor

Also known as Rountree

A young architect and member of the progressive set.

Minnie Sonntag

minor

Also known as Miss Sonntag, Miss Minnie Sonntag

A former stenographer of Babbitt's, now a society woman.

Clarence Drum

minor

Also known as Drum, Captain Clarence Drum, Mr. Drum

A police captain and member of the Boosters' Club.

Colonel Rutherford Snow

minor

Also known as Rutherford Snow, Colonel Snow

The elderly owner of the Zenith Advocate-Times newspaper.

Conrad Lyte

minor

Also known as Lyte, Mr. Conrad Lyte, Brother Lyte

A real estate client and fellow church member of Babbitt.

Chester Kirby Laylock

minor

Also known as Chet Laylock, Laylock, Chet

A young real estate salesman in Babbitt's office.

Dr. Earl Patten

minor

Also known as Dr. Patten, Patten

A physician and friend of Babbitt's social circle.

Willis Ijams

minor

Also known as Ijams, President Ijams, Brother Ijams

President of the Boosters' Club and a local businessman.

Archibald Purdy

minor

Also known as Purdy, Brother Purdy

A fellow church member and acquaintance of Babbitt.

Max Kruger

minor

Also known as Max, Maxwell

A businessman and member of the Boosters' Club.

Mike Monday

minor

Also known as Mike, Mr. Monday

A traveling evangelist who holds a revival in Zenith.

Beecher Ingram

minor

Also known as Ingram, poor Beecher Ingram

A young man who commits suicide, shocking the community.

Sam Doppelbrau

minor

Also known as Doppelbrau, Mr. Samuel Doppelbrau, Sam

A brewer and member of Babbitt's social circle.

Dr. Kurt Yavitch

minor

Also known as Dr. Yavitch, Kurt

A physician and acquaintance of Babbitt.

Fritz Weilinger

minor

Also known as Young Fritz

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Lord Wycombe

minor

Also known as Wycombe

An English aristocrat visiting Zenith.

Fulton Bemis

minor

Also known as Bemis, Fulton

A wealthy eccentric and member of the elite set.

Wilberta Bannigan

minor

Also known as Miss Bannigan

A stenographer in Babbitt's office.

Elbert Wing

minor

Also known as Wing, El Wing, Elbert

A young lawyer and friend of Kenneth Escott.

Lucas Prout

minor

Also known as Mr. Prout, Prout, the Hon. Lucas Prout

A politician and candidate for mayor of Zenith.

Noel Ryland

minor

Also known as Ryland

A member of the progressive set in Zenith.

Chan Mott

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social circle.

Miriam Sassburger

minor

Also known as Miriam, Mrs. Sassburger

A society woman and acquaintance of the Babbitts.

Sylvester Moon

minor

Also known as Moon

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Horace Updike

minor

Also known as Updike

An architect and member of the elite set.

Howat Penny

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social circle.

Cabe Nixon

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Dora Gibson Tucker

minor

Also known as Dotty

A friend of Myra Babbitt.

Elnora Pearl Bates

minor

Also known as Miss Elnora Pearl Bates

A young woman in Babbitt's social circle.

Omar Gribble

minor

Also known as Gribble

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Ben Berkey

minor

Also known as Benny, Berkey

A young man in Babbitt's social circle.

Dr. J. T. Angus

minor

Also known as Dr. Angus, Angus

A physician and acquaintance of Babbitt.

May Arnold

minor

Also known as Arnold, Mrs. Arnold

A society woman and acquaintance of the Babbitts.

George Follansbee

minor

Also known as Follansbee

A variant name for George F. Babbitt, used in formal contexts.

Alvin Thayer

minor

Also known as Thayer

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Gil O'Hearn

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social circle.

Mona Dodsworth

minor

A young woman in Babbitt's social orbit.

C. Harold Lowden

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social circle.

Emil Wengert

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Mack Harker

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social circle.

Bob Bickerstaff

minor

A young man in Babbitt's social orbit.

Muriel Frink

minor

Chum Frink's wife, a society woman.