Character Relationship Map: Tarnished Lady

Characters

• Nancy Courtney (played by Tallulah Bankhead) — protagonist

  Nancy Courtney is a once-wealthy socialite struggling to preserve the appearance of prosperity after her father's death. Pressured by Mrs. Courtney, she marries Norman Cravath despite loving DeWitt Ta...

• Norman Cravath (played by Clive Brook) — protagonist

  Norman Cravath is a stockbroker who marries Nancy Courtney at Mrs. Courtney's urging and tries to make her happy, although she remains miserable. After his firm is barred from the stock market and he...

• Germaine Prentiss (played by Phoebe Foster) — supporting

  Germaine Prentiss is Norman Cravath's former girlfriend and Nancy Courtney's long-time rival. She becomes involved with DeWitt Taylor while he is changing into a social climber, later accompanies Norm...

• DeWitt Taylor (played by Alexander Kirkland) — supporting

  DeWitt Taylor is a writer loved by Nancy Courtney who is initially indifferent to accumulating wealth. He begins courting Germaine Prentiss, Norman Cravath's former girlfriend, and Nancy observes that...

• Ben Sterner (played by Osgood Perkins) — supporting

  Ben Sterner is Nancy Courtney's friend who accompanies her to a speakeasy after she learns of Norman Cravath's bankruptcy. He later offers Nancy a place to live when she is destitute and pregnant, and...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Ben Sterner → Norman Cravath (Professional Business Associates) — Their business connection brings Norman into contact with Nancy during her disgrace.

  Norman waits at Ben's home to discuss a business transaction with Ben.

• Norman Cravath → Germaine Prentiss (Former Romantic Partners) — A past romance that remains connected to the central marital conflict.

  Germaine is identified as Norman's former girlfriend. She later accompanies him while purchasing a fur coat.

• DeWitt Taylor → Germaine Prentiss (Romantic Partners) — Their romance influences DeWitt's values and intensifies Nancy's distress.

  DeWitt begins romancing Germaine, and the plot states that his relationship with her changes him into a social climber.

• Nancy Courtney → DeWitt Taylor (Romantic Former Love Interest) — Nancy's original romantic attachment and a major source of emotional disappointment.

  Nancy loves DeWitt, although he is indifferent to amassing a fortune. She becomes distressed when he romances Germaine and begins acting like a social...

• Nancy Courtney → Norman Cravath (Romantic Wife And Husband) — A strained marriage that moves from unhappiness and separation toward forgiveness and reconciliation.

  Nancy marries Norman at her mother's urging, but she is miserable in the marriage. She later asks him for another chance, and the ending leaves them r...

Story Dynamics

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

• Nancy Courtney → Ben Sterner (Social Friend) — Ben provides companionship and practical support during Nancy's lowest period.

  Nancy goes to a speakeasy together with her friend Ben. He later offers her a place to live when she is destitute.

• Nancy Courtney → Germaine Prentiss (Conflict Longtime Rivals) — Their rivalry is rooted in competing romantic and social positions.

  Germaine is explicitly described as Nancy's long-time rival. Germaine later tries to warn Nancy away from Norman.

Story Analysis

A socially displaced woman confronts emotional failure, poverty, and marriage before earning a chance at reconciliation.

Plot Progression

1. A Marriage Under Pressure — Nancy struggles to preserve her former prosperity after her father's death. Although she loves DeWitt, she follows pressure to marry Norman and remains unhappy in the marriage.
2. Romance And Financial Ruin — DeWitt romances Germaine and becomes more socially ambitious. Norman's firm is barred from the stock market, while Nancy decides to leave him without knowing about the impending bankruptcy.
3. Public Humiliation — Nancy learns of Norman's bankruptcy and goes drinking with Ben. Norman encounters her intoxicated condition at Ben's home and rejects her completely.
4. Descent And Shelter — Nancy cannot find work and becomes destitute. After discovering her pregnancy, she receives shelter from Ben and gives birth to her child.
5. A Chance To Reconcile — Ben hires Nancy at his department store, where Norman and Germaine find her working there. Nancy asks Norman for another chance, Germaine withdraws, and the couple reunites with their infant son.