The Well of Loneliness

Sir Philip, Stephen’s proud father and Anna’s loyal husband, remains consistent in character throughout his short presence in this novel. He is thoroughly “noble,” “gallant,” and “exceedingly well-favored” (5). He is “a dreamer and a lover” (6) and “the good gardener of [Stephen’s] body and spirit” (70). Sir Philip dashes to Stephen as soon as he comes home from work, ready to roughhouse with her, ride with her, hunt with her, or whatever activity she wants to do. He is full of compassion and always listens to Stephen’s problems without judging. He encourages her education and her physical health. He does his best to cure her of her heartbreak over Collins and to fund her interests, like hunting and horseback riding.

As Sir Philip gets to know his daughter, he also gets to know her sexuality. He worries that labeling her too early will hurt her and Anna, so he keeps the information to himself. This appears to be Sir Philip’s one flaw. His refusal to tell Anna causes Anna to believe he would have been ashamed of Stephen’s sexuality when just the opposite is true. In the end, a tree falls on him, and his death leaves an unfillable hole in both Stephen and Anna’s lives.

As a child, Stephen is active, “strong,” “well-behaved,” and far from feminine. She has broad shoulders and “gawky” legs and doesn’t like “ribbons” or” soft dresses.” She gets along with her father but remains distant from her mother. Stephen is “painfully hypersensitive and suffer(s) accordingly” (38). She doesn’t get along well with other children, she is “angular” and awkward, and none of the topics the local girls harp on interest her. Stephen finds herself attracted to other women, first a housemaid named Collins, then an American named Angela Crossby, at a time when homosexuality was either heavily disparaged or not discussed at all. Her heart is broken repeatedly, her trust stymied by both the women and the men in her life, the world ceaselessly unwelcoming to her.

Alongside her physical strength, Stephen cultivates her mental strength as well. She believes in courage and generosity of spirit and often offers her companions these very qualities in herself. She offers her help to countless others, including the women she fights with during World War I and the women she meets at socialite Valérie Seymour’s salon. In the end, however, Stephen’s generosity is so large it envelops her whole.  

Collins is a curvy maid employed by the Gordons during Stephen’s youth. She is “timid by nature” (11). She is flattered by Stephen’s affection but has no intention of reciprocating the little girl’s affections.

Roger Antrim is the neighborhood bully. He is full of “self-importance” as a teen. He steals Angela Crossby from Stephen as a young adult, continuing his reputation for being unkind. He is eventually killed in action during World War I.

Violet Antrim is the fragile neighbor girl whom Stephen considers “idiotic.” As a teen, she is full of “allure” and quickly attracts a husband, then tries to rub her engagement in Stephen’s face. She remains a harmless, if annoying, thorn in Stephen’s side throughout the book. 

Hired to replace Collins, Mademoiselle Duphot becomes Stephen’s nanny when Stephen is about seven years old. She is “tactless” and messy. She cares a lot for Stephen but is ineffectual: She is able to teach Stephen French but nothing else. Sir Philip eventually dismisses her, but she and Stephen reunite in Paris decades later.

Mademoiselle Duphot has grown large in both purse and weight since Stephen saw her as a child. She makes a fuss over Stephen and invites her to meet her blind sister, Julie. They become good friends for a while, but she eventually falls out of favor with Stephen because Stephen fears she would reject her if she knew about her sexuality. Mademoiselle Duphot’s big heart, however, would likely have made room had she had the chance.

Although Williams, one of the Gordon’s many workers, says that Martin Hallam “be trusty, that’s what ‘e be,” Martin turns out to be one of the most deceptive characters in the book (84). As young adults, Martin makes a good friend to Stephen. He loves trees, doesn’t question her oddities, and enjoys all the same activities she does. However, just as soon as Stephen comes to trust him, he professes his undying love for her, scaring her off. He disappears on the wave of rejection then comes back into Stephen’s life many decades later, when she has happily settled down with Mary. Again, he appears caring, intelligent, and fun. Again, he deceives Stephen, this time professing his love for Mary instead of her.

Miss Puddleton, often affectionately called Puddle, is very short, square, and gray. Hired to replace the ineffectual Mademoiselle Duphot, she whips Stephen into shape. She is assertive but giving and is always there for Stephen, far beyond the call of any traditional nanny. She comes from a painful past, one that she insinuates was marred by issues related to her sexuality. Her loyalty to Stephen is unflagging, even when it means snubbing her original employer, Lady Anna. When Stephen moves to London and then to Paris, she brings Puddle with her.

As dashing as she is deceptive, Angela Crossby is the “small,” “pluck,” and “amazingly blonde” American who captures Stephen’s heart. According to Stephen’s initial impression, Angela is “very fragrant and pale” like a flower (128). Time quickly reveals that Angela is backhanded, manipulative, and willing to destroy Stephen’s life if it means saving her own. 

Best described as an “inadequate…devil,” Ralph is Angela Crossby’s abusive husband. He is “revengeful,” “weak,” and eventually the cause of Stephen’s greatest misery, her banishment from Morton (163).

An effeminate playwright who befriends Stephen, Brockett is sporadic and unpredictable but deeply invested in Stephen. He offers her love advice, often against her will, but introduces her to dozens of other people of a similar sexual persuasion. 

An interesting artist who holds monthly salons for all sort of artists and minorities, Valérie Seymour is both a lesbian and respected, an oddity in Stephen’s time. She does not drink and is often considered a downer, but she is a good friend and a great listener.

Introduced as “young and completely ignorant of life” (273), Mary Llewellyn is both a member of Stephen’s unit during World War I and the love of Stephen’s life. She is an orphan with a huge heart. She has worked all her life, and despite appearing outwardly frail she is much tougher and more intelligent than those around her assume. Mary’s love for Stephen is genuine, but due to the crushing expectations of society during her lifetime, her love ultimately fails.

An absurdly large female musician whose pride is equal to her size, Jaime is a good friend of Stephen’s who eventually commits suicide after having lost her lifelong lover, Barbara.