A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts

William Vanderbilt is the antagonist of A Well-Behaved Woman. He is represented as a stereotypical wealthy, entitled, boorish man. He only cares about what benefits him and never changes, as he never has to face any meaningful consequences for his actions, revealing him to be a static character.

As the grandson of the Commodore Vanderbilt, William was born into a life of privilege and wealth. From the outset, he is portrayed in an unflattering light. He is first introduced in the novel, flirting with the 14-year-old Theresa Fair. Shortly after, he makes a very perfunctory and unromantic proposal to Alva before leaving to go boating with Theresa during their engagement. He expresses his affection toward Alva sparingly, typically in the form of expensive gifts of jewelry. More importantly to Alva, he does not take her ideas seriously. When she attempts to express her political opinions, for instance, he scolds her for “troubl[ing] them with politics” (282).

Through William, the narrative offers perspective on the lifestyles of the wealthy of the time. He neglects his business in favor of a life of leisure, spending lavishly on horses, properties, yachts, and travel. As Alva wryly reflects, “the papers regularly had reports that placed him […] at gambling tables” with “playboys” (359). He also neglects his family. He is frequently away from his children, Consuelo, Willie, and Harold, and while he is away, he pursues numerous affairs. These affairs are something of an open secret among their set, although Alva largely pretends to be unaware. When confronted with the irrefutable proof that William has been having an affair with Consuelo, Alva’s best friend, William refuses to apologize. Instead, he arrogantly retorts, “I am as decent a man as there is, and any other woman would be grateful” (406). His attitude showcases the prevalent view of high society at that time, but it also provides the motivation for Alva to seek a divorce and financial independence.

Consuelo, referred to as Lady C. in the novel after her marriage to the future Duke of Manchester, is Alva’s best friend. Lady C. is a foil to Alva, serving as a point of comparison and contrast to the protagonist. At the beginning of the novel, Consuelo and Alva share superficial similarities. Like Alva, Lady C comes from a wealthy family whose plantations enslave people, although Lady C.’s family did not lose their wealth during the Civil War, as their plantations were in Cuba, where enslavement was legal until 1886.

However, Lady C. also provides a counterpoint to Alva’s personality. Where Alva is somewhat shy, sheltered, and anxious, Consuelo is outgoing, worldly, and confident. This is illustrated in the opening scene, in which Consuelo assertively sends a note to William on Alva’s behalf. Consuelo marries the future Duke of Manchester, George Montagu. In the early days of their marriage, Consuelo enjoys her sex life more than Alva does with her husband, William. She tells Alva, meaningfully, “We’re having a marvelous time” (124). Lady C’s relative contentment with her lot in life and her willingness to engage in norm-breaking behavior like smoking contrasts sharply with Alva’s dedicated virtue and self-denial.

However, over time, Lady C. finds herself in circumstances similar to Alva’s. Like Alva, Lady C.’s husband fills his days spending lavishly, avoiding his official duties, and having affairs. She is left relatively penniless, and eventually, they separate. This is another point of comparison between the two women, as Alva later divorces her husband because of his affairs. Lady C. is a critical figure in the major turning point of Alva’s life. Filled with guilt after her husband’s death, Lady C. writes to Alva, confessing her long-term affair with William. Alva cuts off all ties with her former best friend following this confession, although by the end of the novel, she considers a reconciliation. Lady C. plays a variety of roles in Alva’s life and in the narrative, serving as a friend and mentor at first, and later, a truth-teller who confronts Alva with the reality of the state of her marriage, prompting her to act definitively and ask for a divorce.

Oliver Belmont is the heir to the Belmont banking fortune. In the novel, he is portrayed as the great love of Alma’s life and a point of contrast to William Vanderbilt, his good friend. When Alma first meets Oliver, she feels an immediate connection with him. At a party where everyone else is talking endlessly about the banal subjects of “[h]ounds. Polo. Races. Oysters” (168), he decides to ask her opinion of the Paris Commune. She is taken by his charming demeanor, political sensibilities, and thoughtfulness. She feels that “she hadn’t had fun like this since before she was married” (171). However, when he makes advances of affection toward her, she firmly rejects him because she is married and isn’t willing to risk her position in society by having an affair.

Following a disastrous marriage, Oliver spends several years abroad before returning to reconnect with Alva as a friend. Although he never again expresses romantic intentions toward her while she is married, they become close. After Alva’s divorce, Oliver proposes to Alva, and they marry. Oliver represents the culmination of Alva’s romantic—and sexual—desires. Unlike William, who treated sex with his wife as a selfish pursuit, Oliver emphasizes that he believes it is “fair” for men to “put the desires and pleasures of their partner before their own” (497). In a further contrast to William, Oliver uses his fortune to pursue progressive politics that will better the less fortunate in society rather than simply for his own benefit and pleasure. Oliver and Alva have a happy marriage until Oliver’s death from appendicitis in 1908, and their relationship illustrates the novel’s message about the importance of marrying for love, not money or social standing.

Ward McAllister is a dandy and socialite who uses his position to gatekeep and manage New York high society. He is a static character who largely acts as a plot device rather than a well-rounded character. Ward McAllister is first introduced in the novel as a “fellow Southerner” who acts as “a happy drone flitting among the families, pollinating everyone with his enthusiasm and advice” (58). He is particularly close friends with the queen of the New York social set, Mrs. Caroline Astor.

Ward McAllister is helpful to Alva at her time of greatest need. He helps her arrange her wedding and provides her with funds to buy food until she can access the Vanderbilt fortune. He also negotiates an introduction between Alva and Mrs. Astor to help secure the Vanderbilts a place in high society. Over time, they become close friends. However, when Ward is shunned by high society because he writes a book that shares the secrets of the elites, Alva does not come to his defense. This plot point acts as foreshadowing and a cautionary tale of what Alva herself will face when she breaks one of this society’s taboos: getting a divorce. Many years later, Alva apologizes to Ward, and they reconcile, illustrating how they have both grown and changed in their understanding of society’s demands.