A Blot in the 'Scutcheon: Analysis of Major Characters
"A Blot in the 'Scutcheon" features a complex interplay of characters shaped by themes of honor, reputation, and familial loyalty. At the center of the narrative is Thorold, Earl Tresham, a nobleman driven by a fierce determination to protect his family's honor. His discovery that his younger sister, Mildred, has engaged in an affair leads to a tragic series of events, including a duel with her lover, Henry, Earl Mertoun. Mildred, a naïve and innocent fourteen-year-old, is caught in the turmoil of her brother's actions and the societal pressures surrounding her.
The Earl Mertoun truly loves Mildred and wishes to marry her, but he is ultimately killed by Earl Tresham in a confrontation that leaves both families shattered. Guendolen, a cousin to the siblings, seeks to mediate and advocate for Mildred's happiness, while Austin Tresham, the Earl's brother, attempts to intervene and save Mertoun from his fatal fate. The story culminates in a tragic reflection on the consequences of maintaining one's honor at the expense of love and life, leaving a lasting impact on the surviving characters who inherit the family legacy. The narrative thus explores the devastating repercussions of pride and the fragility of human relationships in the face of societal expectations.
A Blot in the 'Scutcheon: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Robert Browning
First published: 1843
Genre: Play
Locale: Rural England
Plot: Tragedy
Time: Eighteenth century
Thorold, Earl Tresham, a proud English nobleman who is resolved to keep his family's reputation untarnished. Horrified when he discovers that his sister has taken a lover, he traps the man and kills him in a duel. He poisons himself, hoping that his death, his sister's, and her lover's will erase the blot on the family escutcheon.
Henry, Earl Mertoun, the suitor of Mildred, Earl Tresham's sister. He wants to cover up their affair by marrying the girl, whom he truly loves. He is found sneaking into the castle one night, is challenged to a duel, and is killed by Earl Tresham, against whom he does not try to defend himself.
Mildred, Earl Tresham's fourteen-year-old sister, led by her innocence into taking Earl Mertoun as her lover. When he offers marriage, she feels she cannot in honor accept his suit to marry her as though she were truly a virgin. She dies of grief on hearing that her lover is dead.
Guendolen, a cousin of Earl Tresham and Mildred. She tries to help the young girl by convincing Earl Tresham that Earl Mertoun's suit is honorable.
Austin Tresham, Earl Tresham's brother and Guendolen's fiancé. He tries, with Guendolen's help, to save Earl Mertoun's life after he has been wounded. Austin and his bride, Guendolen, inherit the title and estates after Earl Tresham's death.
Gerald, the retainer who informs Earl Tresham of Mildred's affair.