Paul, the middle Wilcox child, is the young man that kisses Helen, the event that leads to the drama between the two families. He lives in a house near Howards End with his wife Dolly and their children. He does not think highly of the Schlegels and is not afraid to admit it, for he is convinced of the integrity of his position. He is stern and righteous, feeling a large responsibility towards his family, especially after his mother's death. Charles WilcoxĬharles is the oldest Wilcox child. After she dies, Ruth is referred to in the novel as someone who learned how to both live and die in a hopeful and balanced manner. She firmly believes in the importance and power of a place, which is why she tries to leave Howards End to Margaret upon her death. Her main pleasure is Howards End, the country house where she was born. She is selfless and devoted to her husband and children. Wilcox lives only in the first part of the novel, but her spirit lingers throughout. When he becomes a large part of Margaret's life, and eventually her husband, she is able to see the good in him, while her sister thinks his practicality and lack of emotion leaves him beyond hope.

His first wife dies, after which he devotes himself to his business and makes a good deal of money. He is sexist and uptight, but fairly tolerable. Wilcox and throughout the second as Henry, is the patriarch of the Wilcox family. Henry Wilcox, known throughout the first part of the novel as Mr. He sometimes finds it difficult to be looked after by two older sisters, but with his coming of age also sees that he must also look after them. He attends Oxford, where he isolates himself in his studies. As he grows older, he becomes more of a presence.

Tibby is just sixteen when the novel begins, and is therefore barely consequential. She values the superiority of the inner life over the outer life, but her goals are often unrealistic. While she shares similar interests with her sister, Helen is the more whimsical of the two, and is also considered more beautiful. She is romantic and impulsive, which sometimes results in catastrophe. Helen, in her early twenties when the novel begins, is the middle Schlegel child. Understanding the importance of having different kinds of people in the world, she has the ability to be practical, but only in order to strengthen her relationships and connections with others. Margaret is intellectual and cultured, with a passion for discussion. She is a mother figure for her younger brother Tibby, and is her sister Helen's best friend. Aged twenty-nine at the opening of the novel, Margaret is the oldest of the Schlegel children, making her responsible for her younger siblings after the death of their parents.

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