Decline and Fall · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh.
Paul Pennyfeather
major
Also known as Paul, Pennyfeather, Mr. Pennyfeather, Darling Paul
A naive theology student who becomes a schoolmaster and later a prisoner.
Captain Grimes
major
Also known as Grimes, Poor old Grimes
A disreputable but charming schoolmaster with a mysterious past.
Mr. Prendergast
major
Also known as Prendergast, Prendy, Old Prendy
A nervous, doubting schoolmaster who later becomes a chaplain.
Philbrick
supporting
Also known as Sir Solomon Philbrick, Solly Philbrick, Chick Philbrick
A butler with a criminal past who spins tall tales.
Margot Beste-Chetwynde
major
Also known as Mrs. Beste-Chetwynde, Margot, Greta
A glamorous and wealthy society woman who becomes Paul's fiancée.
Dr. Fagan
supporting
Also known as the Doctor
The eccentric headmaster of Llanabba Castle school.
Peter Beste-Chetwynde
supporting
Also known as Peter, young Beste-Chetwynde
Margot's son, a schoolboy at Llanabba.
Flossie Fagan
minor
Also known as Miss Fagan, Florence, Miss Florence Selina Fagan
Dr. Fagan's elder daughter, a spinster.
Professor Silenus
minor
Also known as Otto Friedrich Silenus, Otto Silenus
A modernist architect who designs Margot's house.
Sir Alastair Digby-Vaine-Trumpington
supporting
Also known as Sir Alastair, Alastair, Trumpington
A wealthy young aristocrat and friend of Paul.
Sir Wilfred Lucas-Dockery
supporting
Also known as Sir Wilfred, Lucas-Dockery
A prison governor who conducts psychological experiments.
Sir Humphrey Maltravers
minor
Also known as Maltravers, old Maltravers
A cynical lawyer and politician involved in Paul's case.
Arthur Potts
minor
Also known as Potts
A fellow schoolmaster at Llanabba, a socialist.
Lady Circumference
minor
A formidable aristocratic mother of a Llanabba pupil.
Dingy
minor
A prostitute who befriends Paul in prison.
Peter Pastmaster
minor
Also known as Bobby Pastmaster, Bobby
A young aristocrat and friend of Paul's from Oxford.
Lord Circumference
minor
A local landowner and father of a Llanabba pupil.
Toby Cruttwell
minor
Also known as Toby
A drunken friend of Paul's from Oxford.
Clutterbuck
minor
Also known as Mr. Clutterbuck, Sam Clutterbuck
A wealthy parent of a Llanabba pupil.
Little Lord Tangent
minor
Also known as Tangent, Lord Tangent
A young pupil at Llanabba who is accidentally shot.
Mr. Sniggs
minor
Also known as Sniggs
A college dean at Scone College, Oxford.
Colonel Sidebotham
minor
A prison visitor who takes an interest in Paul.
Mr. Cholmondley
minor
Also known as Mr. Sebastian Cholmondley
A schoolmaster at Llanabba.
Mr. Postlethwaite
minor
A schoolmaster at Llanabba.
Lord Pastmaster
minor
A deceased aristocrat, father of Peter Pastmaster.
Mrs. Roberts
minor
The landlady of Paul's lodgings in London.
Lord Parakeet
minor
Also known as Parakeet
A vapid young aristocrat in Margot's social circle.
Pamela Popham
minor
Also known as Pamela
A society girl who flirts with Paul.
Colonel MacAdder
minor
Also known as MacAdder
A prison officer at Blackstone Gaol.
David Lennox
minor
Also known as David, Davy Lennox
A young prisoner who befriends Paul.
Inspector Bruce
minor
A police inspector investigating Paul's case.
Mr. Partridge
minor
Also known as Partridge
A schoolmaster at Llanabba.
Margot Metroland
minor
A society hostess, possibly a different character from Margot Beste-Chetwynde.
Lord Rending
minor
Also known as Rending
A minor aristocrat in Margot's circle.
Lady Vanbrugh
minor
An elderly society figure.
Mr. Jack Spire
minor
Also known as Mr. Spire
A journalist who writes about Paul's case.
Augustus Fagan
minor
Dr. Fagan's son, mentioned but not seen.
Lord Utteridge
minor
Also known as Utteridge
A minor aristocrat.
Diana
minor
Also known as Miss Diana
A woman in Margot's social circle.
Gracie
minor
Also known as Miss Gracie
A maid at Llanabba Castle.
Miles Malpractice
minor
Also known as The Hon. Miles Malpractice
A young man about town.
Brolly
minor
A prison warder.
Stubbs
minor
A servant at Llanabba Castle.
Mr. Levy
minor
A solicitor involved in Paul's legal affairs.
Jimmy Drage
minor
Also known as Jimmy
A young man in Margot's circle.
Percy
minor
A servant at Llanabba.
Bill
minor
A prisoner in Blackstone Gaol.
Briggs
minor
A prison warder.
Sanders
minor
Also known as Mr. Sanders
A schoolmaster at Llanabba.
Dina
minor
A woman mentioned in passing.
Scone
minor
A college butler at Oxford.
Bessy
minor
A maid at Llanabba.
