Charlotte Temple Character Analysis

Charlotte Temple

The novel’s protagonist, Charlotte Temple is a 15-year-old student in Chichester, England. Innocent and kind, Charlotte is easily led astray, often putting too much trust in others and not wanting to let anyone down. Because… read analysis of Charlotte Temple

Montraville

Montraville is a lieutenant in the British army who becomes smitten with Charlotte after seeing her one day shortly before he’s called to America. He can’t stop thinking about her, so he visits her school… read analysis of Montraville

Mademoiselle La Rue (Mrs. Crayton)

Mademoiselle La Rue is a former nun who fell into dishonor by eloping from her convent and living with a man out of wedlock. Nonetheless, she insists that she has reformed her ways, which is… read analysis of Mademoiselle La Rue (Mrs. Crayton)

Belcour

Belcour is a selfish, untrustworthy lieutenant in the British army, and one of Montraville’s close friends. While Montraville seduces Charlotte, Belcour endears himself to Mademoiselle La Rue, finding it easy to convince… read analysis of Belcour

Mr. Temple

Mr. Temple is Charlotte’s father. A selfless man who cares more about helping others than becoming rich, he meets his future wife, Lucy, while paying a visit to debtor’s prison. Because he has… read analysis of Mr. Temple

Lucy Temple

Lucy Temple is Charlotte’s mother. She meets her husband when he comes to debtor’s prison to visit Captain Eldridge, her father. Lucy is very devoted to her father. In fact, seeing her care… read analysis of Lucy Temple

Captain Eldridge

Captain Eldridge is Charlotte’s grandfather. An esteemed sailor, he ends up in debtor’s prison after accepting a loan from his son George’s good friend Mr. Lewis. At first, Mr. Lewis is willing… read analysis of Captain Eldridge

Mr. Lewis

Mr. Lewis is a friend of Captain Eldridge’s son, George. A very wealthy man, he becomes close with the Eldridge family and happily lends Captain Eldridge a large amount of money, saying that… read analysis of Mr. Lewis

Madame Du Pont

Madame Du Pont is the headmistress at the boarding school Charlotte attends. A trusting woman, she employs Mademoiselle La Rue even though she knows La Rue ran away from a convent and led a dishonorable… read analysis of Madame Du Pont

Mrs. Beauchamp

Mrs. Beauchamp is Crayton’s daughter. A wealthy woman, she isn’t afraid to help those in need, even when this means extending her empathy to social outcasts. This is exactly what she does when she… read analysis of Mrs. Beauchamp

Crayton

Crayton is a wealthy man aboard the same ship Charlotte and Mademoiselle La Rue take from England to America. During the passage, La Rue identifies him as a rich man and endears herself to him… read analysis of Crayton

The Author (Susanna Rowson)

Susanna Rowson is the author of Charlotte Temple. Although she’s not one of the novel’s characters in a traditional sense, her voice is so prominent throughout the book that she essentially functions as an… read analysis of The Author (Susanna Rowson)

George

The son of Captain Eldridge, and brother of Lucy Temple. While in school, George becomes good friends with a wealthy man named Mr. Lewis. When George needs more money to progress in… read analysis of George

Minor Characters

Julia Franklin

Julia Franklin is a wealthy and well-liked young woman in America. Montraville takes a liking to her and eventually marries her. She has no idea that he abandoned another woman—Charlotte—in order to be with her.

Mr. Corydon

Mr. Corydon is a man La Rue takes as a lover after marrying Crayton.

Miss Weatherby

Miss Weatherby is a wealthy woman whom Mr. Temple’s father wants him to marry. Despite his father’s wishes, Mr. Temple marries Lucy instead. As a way of showing his anger (and as a way of securing her wealth), Mr. Temple’s father marries Miss Weatherby himself.

Charlotte Temple Characters