Anthony Blanche Character Analysis in Brideshead Revisited

Anthony Blanche is a friend of Sebastian’s at Oxford University, and an acquaintance of Charles Ryder. Anthony is an outsider in British society for several reasons: he is foreign and has travelled all over the world, he is from a Catholic family, and he is homosexual. Anthony is picked on by other boys throughout his school years in England, and the bullying continues at university. He responds to this by embracing his unconventionality and using it shock people. He loves to break social conventions and to make people uncomfortable. However, although Anthony’s eccentric behavior is a defense mechanism and a way to protect himself, it does not make him likable or accepted the way that Sebastian’s similar behavior does. Anthony is slightly bitter about this and realizes that he is picked on because he is different, while Sebastian gets away things because people are taken in by his “English charm.” Anthony, as a foreigner, cannot rely on this and is jealous of Sebastian. He tries to tempt Charles away from Sebastian and seems irritated that Charles prefers Sebastian to him. Anthony is presented as a “devilish” figure who is the exact opposite of Sebastian’s angelic, youthful innocence. Anthony, in contrast, is worldly, experienced, and can be cruel. He thus represents the demonic side in the battle for Charles’s affections, and tries to steer Charles towards a life of lust, debauchery, and modern art, while Sebastian represents true love, and the wisdom and religious grace which comes from this. Anthony is an “aesthete,” someone who loves beauty and art, and wants Charles to unleash his inner artistic passion. He feels that Charles, who he thinks has potential to be a great artist, has been metaphorically “killed” by Sebastian because he has lost his interest in cultural exploration and, instead, wants to remain as he is and not allow change into his life. As Charles grows older, he realizes that Anthony is right in this sense, and that he must accept change to grow and develop as an artist.

Anthony Blanche Quotes in Brideshead Revisited

The Brideshead Revisited quotes below are all either spoken by Anthony Blanche or refer to Anthony Blanche. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Innocence, Experience, and Redemption Theme Icon

Anthony Blanche had taken something away with him when he went; he had locked a door and hung the key on his chain; and all his friends, among whom he had always been a stranger, needed him now.

Related Characters: Charles Ryder (speaker), Anthony Blanche, Sebastian Flyte

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 121

Explanation and Analysis:

Anthony Blanche Character Timeline in Brideshead Revisited

The timeline below shows where the character Anthony Blanche appears in Brideshead Revisited. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...from Eton arrive and greet Charles and Sebastian coolly. The last person to arrive is Anthony Blanche, a young foreign student. He is dressed extravagantly, and Charles realizes he has seen... (full context)

Anthony is as an “aesthete” and is known for “challenging conventions” on campus. Charles likes him... (full context)

...Lord Marchmain now lives abroad. Although Jasper thinks Sebastian may be alright, he really dislikes Anthony Blanche and is embarrassed that Charles spends time with him. (full context)

During this period at university, Charles also sees a lot of Anthony Blanche. Anthony spent his childhood and teenage years travelling, and is rumored to have had... (full context)

Anthony meets Charles at the student bar, the George, and orders four cocktails. Charles does not... (full context)

Anthony explains that, before Boy and the others could grab him, he got into the fountain... (full context)

While they are at dinner, Anthony says that he cannot imagine Sebastian being thrown in a fountain. Anthony monologues spitefully at... (full context)

Anthony says that Charles is a natural artist. He has seen Charles’s sketches in his room... (full context)

Anthony remarks that it is amazing Sebastian is so charming when he “comes from such a... (full context)

In Venice, Anthony says, Lady Marchmain made a show of being very pious and Lord Marchmain could not... (full context)

Anthony thinks that, because of his background, Sebastian tries very hard to seem good and “insipid.”... (full context)

...everyone else is on their way to church. He tells Sebastian about his evening with Anthony and asks him if Anthony knows his family. Sebastian says no, but that Anthony and... (full context)

...of sin.” Charles is frustrated by the note and tears it up. He remembers that Anthony called Sebastian insipid. (full context)

...he does not change his ways, he will be expelled. He also tells Charles that Anthony Blanche has been expelled and has moved to Munich where he is in love with... (full context)

...with their other friends. Many of the circles they moved in have broken up since Anthony left, and Charles feels that Anthony has taken some of the life away from Oxford.... (full context)

...photos. At last, Mr. Samgrass finds one from Beirut which features Sebastian. Charles also recognizes Anthony Blanche in the photo, and Mr. Samgrass says that Anthony travelled with them for a... (full context)

...escape Mr. Samgrass and win some money at cards. The next day, he bumped into Anthony Blanche, and Anthony lent him some more money. Mr. Samgrass “recaptured” him and took him... (full context)

...Marchmain, without ruining his own holiday. Sebastian was going to run away for good, but Anthony convinced him to contact Mr. Samgrass and go back with him for Christmas. (full context)

...Charles goes to see a band in a jazz club in London and runs into Anthony Blanche and Boy Mulcaster. Boy seems out of his element in the club, and Anthony... (full context)

Anthony tells Charles that Sebastian has recently been to stay with him and that he still... (full context)

...fit in and does not know anyone. He decides to set off a fire alarm. Anthony humors him and then tells Charles that Sebastian and the German went to Morocco together.... (full context)

...Julia. He is about to leave when he hears a voice he recognizes. It is Anthony Blanche: the doorman has tried to turn him away. Charles lets Anthony in, and Anthony... (full context)

Anthony takes Charles to a gay bar nearby, which is garishly decorated but quite dingy inside.... (full context)

Anthony was excited to hear that Charles had painted abroad and had heard that his new... (full context)

...Charles in the train carriage. Charles tells her about the exhibition, and his meeting with Anthony, while the two have dinner. Rex is at Brideshead with a party of friends when... (full context)

Anthony Blanche Character Analysis

Anthony Blanche Quotes in Brideshead Revisited

Part 1, Chapter 5 Quotes

Anthony Blanche Character Timeline in Brideshead Revisited