Who Anthony Patch is
Anthony Patch lives on a small income while expecting his wealthy grandfather, Adam Patch, to secure his future. He imagines writing a history of the Middle Ages, but his reading and plans never become steady work. Gentle, witty and often kind, he also hides his fear of failure behind irony.
What Anthony Patch wants
Anthony wants a life of ease without taking a job he dislikes or risking failure through effort. The expected fortune lets him treat waiting as wisdom rather than face the need to build something himself. When he meets Gloria, he hopes love can give his otherwise empty days a purpose.
Anthony Patch and the others in the story
Gloria's freedom and directness attract Anthony, and their courtship leads to a marriage filled with parties, dinners and travel. Their affection is real, but they increasingly rely on pleasure to soothe quarrels instead of making plans. His friends offer contrasting examples, Maury Noble mocks ambition, while Dick Caramel steadily builds a writing career.
How Anthony Patch changes
As bills mount, Anthony drinks more often to soften his anxiety about money and himself.
Questions
Who is Anthony Patch?
Anthony Patch is the young man at the center of The Beautiful and Damned, whose expectations of wealth shape his choices.
How is Anthony Patch related to Adam Patch?
Anthony is Adam Patch's grandson and only close heir. His comfortable future depends on the approval of a stern grandfather who campaigns against drink and vice.
Is Anthony Patch a bad person?
He is not presented as a villain. His kindness and sensitivity exist alongside vanity, avoidance and a growing dependence on drink.