Brideshead Revisited Character Analysis

Charles Ryder

Charles Ryder is the protagonist and narrator of Brideshead Revisited. He is a middle-aged Captain the army, in charge of a Company during World War II. He is a misanthropic, reserved, and unhappy individual… read analysis of Charles Ryder

Sebastian Flyte

Sebastian Flyte is the second son of Lord Marchmain and Lady Marchmain, and the brother of Brideshead, Julia, and Cordelia. Sebastian meets Charles Ryder at Oxford University, and the pair develop… read analysis of Sebastian Flyte

Julia Flyte

Julia is the oldest daughter of Lord Marchmain and Lady Marchmain, and the sister of The Earl of Brideshead, Sebastian, and Cordelia. Charles meets Julia when she is 19 years old… read analysis of Julia Flyte

Lady Marchmain

Lady Marchmain, the Marchioness of Brideshead, is the estranged wife of Lord Marchmain, and the mother of Brideshead, Julia, Sebastian, and Cordelia. She is a devout Catholic and is… read analysis of Lady Marchmain

Lord Marchmain

Lord Marchmain, the Marquis of Brideshead, is the estranged husband of Lady Marchmain, and the father of Brideshead, Julia, Sebastian, and Cordelia. He is the lover of Cara… read analysis of Lord Marchmain

Rex Mottram

Rex Mottram is a businessman, an entrepreneur, and the husband of Julia Flyte. Rex is “new money” and is not from a wealthy family. He stands out in British society because he is Canadian… read analysis of Rex Mottram

Brideshead

Brideshead is the eldest son of Lord Marchmain and Lady Marchmain, and the older brother of Julia, Sebastian, and Cordelia. Brideshead is a devout Catholic, went to Catholic school, and wanted… read analysis of Brideshead

Cordelia Flyte

Cordelia is the youngest child of Lord Marchmain and Lady Marchmain, and the younger sister of Brideshead, Julia, and Sebastian. Cordelia is still a child when Charles meets her. She is… read analysis of Cordelia Flyte

Cara

Cara is a middle-aged Italian woman and Lord Marchmain’s mistress, for whom he left Lady Marchmain and his children. When Charles meets Cara in Venice, when he and Sebastian go to stay with Lord… read analysis of Cara

Anthony Blanche

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… read analysis of Anthony Blanche

Boy Mulcaster

Boy Mulcaster is a friend of the Marchmain family and a student at Oxford in the same year as Sebastian and Charles. Boy Mulcaster is also the brother of Celia, whom Charles eventually… read analysis of Boy Mulcaster

Mr. Samgrass

Mr. Samgrass is a Professor at Oxford, and a friend of Lady Marchmain. He becomes Sebastian’s guardian after Sebastian is expelled from Oxford for drunkenness, and is paid by Lady Marchmain to take… read analysis of Mr. Samgrass

Kurt

Kurt is a young German man who has served with the Foreign Legion and who lives with Sebastian in Morocco. Kurt is a physically powerful but easily-led and unintelligent young man, and joined the army… read analysis of Kurt

Celia

Celia is Boy Mulcaster’s sister and Charles Ryder’s wife whom he eventually divorces. The pair have two children together: Caroline and “Johnjohn.” Celia is described as a “neat” and “jaunty” woman… read analysis of Celia

Mr. Ryder

Mr. Ryder is Charles’s father. His wife, Charles’s mother, was killed abroad while working with a Red Cross missionary group during World War I. Mr. Ryder never remarried and lives, quite happily, alone in… read analysis of Mr. Ryder

Nanny Hawkins

Nanny Hawkins is a servant for the Marchmains and was the nanny of Brideshead, Julia, Sebastian, and Cordelia when they were young children. Sebastian introduces Charles to Nanny on his first visit… read analysis of Nanny Hawkins

Jasper

Jasper is Charles’s older cousin who also attends Oxford University. He advises Charles about how to behave properly at school, though Charles doesn’t take his cousin’s tips seriously. Jasper’s stuffy, overbearing attitude is a… read analysis of Jasper

Hooper –

Hooper is a young platoon commander in Charles’s Company during World War II. Hooper is not an enthusiastic soldier and is not popular with the authorities in the army. He is not very good at… read analysis of Hooper –

Jorkins

Jorkins is an old school fellow of Charles’s. Although Charles and Jorkins were never close friends, Charles invites Jorkins to dinner one night with his father, Mr. Ryder, because he is so bored… read analysis of Jorkins

Minor Characters

Ned

Ned is Lady Marchmain’s older brother who was killed in World War I. During the novel, Lady Marchmain commissions Mr. Samgrass to compile a book about Ned’s life.

Wilcox

Wilcox is Lady Marchmain’s housekeeper at Brideshead.

Lunt

Lunt is Charles’s “scout,” or servant, at university.

Plender

Plender is Lord Marchmain’s Italian butler, who comes with him to Brideshead towards the end of the novel.

Effie

Effie is a dancer at Ma Mayfield’s, a gentleman’s club on the Old Hundredth in London. Charles and Sebastian visit this club to see Effie with Boy Mulcaster. Boy tells them that Effie is his girlfriend but, when they arrive, she doesn’t recognize or remember him.

Johnjohn

Johnjohn is the infant son of Charles and Celia, and the nephew of Boy Mulcaster.

Caroline

Caroline is the baby daughter of Charles and Celia, and the niece of Boy Mulcaster.

Brenda Champion

Brenda Champion is a wealthy socialite and Rex Mottram’s lover.

Beryl Muspratt

Beryl Muspratt marries Brideshead. She is a middle-class woman and, because Lord Marchmain considers her “common,” she and Brideshead are not left Brideshead Castle after his death—it is left to Julia instead.

Father Mackay

Father Mackay is a Catholic priest who attends on the Marchmain family. He is summoned to give Lord Marchmain the last rites on his deathbed.

Mgr. Bell

Mgr. Bell is a Catholic priest who lives in Oxford and whom Lady Marchmain wants Sebastian to live with during his second year.

Hardcastle

Hardcastle is a student at Oxford who often lends Sebastian his car.

Collins

Collins is a friend of Charles at university, with whom Charles spends his Easter vacation.

Robin

Robin in Celia’s second husband after Charles.

Hayter

Hayter is Mr. Ryder’s servant.

Mr. Kramm

Mr. Kramm is a con artist whom Celia and Charles meet on board the ship from America. He pretends to be a film director to come to a party in their cabin and is later arrested as the boat docks.

Father Mowbray

A priest who tries to convert Rex to Catholicism.

Father Phipps

A priest who visits Charles and Sebastian during their summer alone at Brideshead.