Character Relationship Map: Mr. North

Characters

• Theophilus North (played by Anthony Edwards) — protagonist

  A Yale graduate and tutor in 1920s Newport who caters to wealthy families. He generates frequent static electricity shocks that residents mistakenly attribute to healing powers. Accused of quackery, h...

• Mr. Bosworth (played by Robert Mitchum) — protagonist

  An older Newport resident whose health is a source of concern to those around him. After Theophilus North gives him peppermint pills, Bosworth feels well enough to go on drives with Persis. He confirm...

• Persis Bosworth-Tennyson (played by Anjelica Huston) — supporting

  Persis is Mr. Bosworth's granddaughter. She accompanies him on drives after he feels better following the peppermint pills given to him by Theophilus North. Her place in Bosworth's life links her to t...

• Mr. Skeel (played by Mark Metcalf) — minor
• Elspeth Skeel (played by Mary Stuart Masterson) — supporting

  Elspeth Skeel suffers from severe headaches, and she and Galloper Skeel invite Theophilus North to meet them in hopes that his unusual hands might help. North denies having magical powers, but after h...

• Mrs. Skeel (played by Katharine Houghton) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Theophilus North → Elspeth Skeel (Professional Healer And Patient) — North's unusual physical effect appears to relieve Elspeth's severe headaches, helping build his reputation as a healer.

  North lays his hands on Elspeth's head, and her headache improves. He insists that his hands are not magical.

• Mr. Skeel → Mrs. Skeel (Family Husband And Wife) — The Skeels jointly invite North, hoping his unusual hands will relieve Elspeth's headaches.

  The plot reference identifies Galloper Skeel and Elspeth Skeel as a couple who invite North to meet them; the character list identifies them as Mr. Sk...

• Mr. Bosworth → Persis Bosworth-Tennyson (Family Grandfather And Granddaughter) — Persis is Bosworth's granddaughter and spends time driving with him.

  The character profile identifies Persis as Mr. Bosworth's granddaughter. The plot reference says Bosworth goes on drives with Persis after taking Nort...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Theophilus North → Mr. Skeel (Social Invited Guest And Host) — Mr. Skeel participates in bringing North to the Skeel household to seek help for Elspeth.

  Galloper Skeel and Elspeth Skeel invite North to meet them because they hope his unusual hands can help Elspeth.

• Theophilus North → Mr. Bosworth (Social Healer And Patient) — Bosworth benefits from North's care and later speaks in support of him during the hearing.

  North gives Mr. Bosworth peppermint pills, after which Bosworth feels well enough to go on drives with Persis. Bosworth confirms in court that the pil...

Story Analysis

Theophilus North's unusual static electricity is mistaken for healing power, drawing him from teaching work into a legal dispute over his effect on Newport residents.

Plot Progression

1. A Strange Talent on Display — North's reading work with children is disrupted by complaints and a startling reaction to his touch. He explains that his body collects electricity.
2. Finding Work in Newport — North arrives in Newport, where residents are wary of newcomers. Once his education and teaching experience are confirmed, he finds work tutoring and teaching tennis.
3. The Household Healer — The Skeels invite North to help Elspeth, whose headache improves after he lays his hands on her head. His reputation as a healer grows, and Bosworth also feels better after receiving peppermint pills.
4. The Quackery Hearing — North faces legal action over his influence on patients and his alleged practice of dangerous quackery. He admits giving Bosworth peppermint pills, and Bosworth supports his account, but the available...