Mr. Macartney Character Analysis in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

Mr. Macartney is a Scottish poet; he’s Sir John Belmont’s son, Evelina’s brother, and Miss Belmont’s fiancé. Evelina meets Mr. Macartney while he is a destitute lodger in Mr. Branghton’s shop. Macartney is in a dire situation, having fallen in love with Miss Belmont in Paris and fought and injured her father, Sir John (who is also Evelina’s father) when Sir John discovered the affair. After his fight with Sir John, Macartney returned home, where his mother revealed that Sir John is his father too—meaning that he and Miss Belmont are siblings. Macartney then fled to Paris, only to learn that his mother had died, leaving him penniless in London. When Evelina meets Macartney, he is on the brink of suicide, and she saves him from harming himself. Macartney, who’s kind and honorable, insists on paying Evelina back for the help she gave him. After she saves him, he works hard to put his pride aside and ask for financial help from his mother’s family, which saves him from ruin. Macartney eventually discovers that Sir John is his father as well, and that Miss Belmont is not Sir John’s real daughter—she and Evelina were switched at birth. Sir John raised Miss Belmont as his own, believing that she was his and his deceased wife, Caroline’s, child. Macartney marries Miss Belmont at the end of the novel, after it is revealed that she is not his sister, and he inherits his share of Sir John’s wealth.

Mr. Macartney Quotes in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

The Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Macartney or refer to Mr. Macartney. 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:

Sensibility, Etiquette, and Appearances Theme Icon

Yet, when I reflected upon his peculiar situation, his poverty, his sadness, and, more than all the rest, the idea I knew he entertained of what he calls his obligations to me, I could not resolve upon a breach of promise, which might be attributed to causes of all other the most offensive to one whom misfortune has made extremely suspicious of slights and contempt.

Related Characters: Evelina (speaker), Mr. Macartney, Lord Orville

Page Number and Citation: 292

Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Macartney Character Timeline in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Macartney appears in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Inheritance, Class, and Nobility Theme Icon

...leaves as soon as they come in. The Branghtons tell Evelina that the man, Mr. Macartney, is a poor Scottish poet who rents the upstairs room from Mr. Branghton. (full context)

Evelina is concerned about Macartney because he looks so sad, but the Branghtons complain that he pays too little for... (full context)

...and says that she can wait for them there. While Evelina waits, she sees Mr. Macartney rush upstairs past the Branghton’s door toward his own room. He trips on his way... (full context)

Innocence, Guidance, and Experience Theme Icon

Evelina suspects that Mr. Macartney plans to hurt himself with the pistol. At first, she wants to fetch Mr. Branghton—but... (full context)

...pistols away, collapses on a sofa, and bursts into tears. When she looks up, Mr. Macartney is standing at the door with a look of wonder on his face. He tries... (full context)

Evelina faints as soon as Mr. Macartney leaves the room and is woken by the Branghton’s screams as they enter and see... (full context)

...with Evelina at Madame Duval’s house. Mr. Branghton says that he wants to throw Mr. Macartney out of his lodgings because Mr. Macartney tried to kill himself. Tom adds that now... (full context)

...polite and attentive. When she arrives, she finds Mr. Branghton in the shop and Mr. Macartney reading in a corner. Mr. Macartney looks startled when he sees Evelina, and Mr. Branghton... (full context)

...the chairs they have just risen from. Mr. Branghton says that Evelina should take Mr. Macartney’s chair, but she refuses and irritably asks them about their plans for the evening. While... (full context)

...the group decide to vote on where to go that evening. Evelina insists that Mr. Macartney should vote too and join them, since he is in the room. When the Branghtons... (full context)

...Madame Duval, Monsieur Du Bois, and the Branghtons again congregate in the Branghton’s shop. Mr. Macartney reads in the corner, and the group cannot decide where to go out because they... (full context)

Evelina is dismayed by Mr. Macartney’s sadness, and he is moved by her compassion and cannot bring himself to ask her... (full context)

Gender, Reputation, and Marriage Theme Icon

...to Evelina and says that he is not disappointed, but proud, that she helped Mr. Macartney. He feels that her compassion toward Mr. Macartney is very admirable and writes that women... (full context)

...because Mr. Villars has sent her money to replace the amount she gave to Mr. Macartney. Evelina insists that she does not think Macartney has brought his poverty on himself but... (full context)

...to Mr. Villars and tells him that she has just received a letter from Mr. Macartney. Mr. Macartney writes that Evelina’s kindness has given him renewed strength and will to live... (full context)

At university, Macartney became good friends with a wealthy young man who left to tour Europe. Macartney could... (full context)

When Macartney returned to Scotland, he told his mother what happened, and she fainted with horror. She... (full context)

Macartney then heard that his newly discovered father and sister were in London, and he planned... (full context)

Grief-stricken by his mother’s death, Macartney continued to live with the Branghtons, who treated him contemptuously. His mother sent him a... (full context)

Macartney had just secured the pistols to commit his crime when Evelina saw him, followed him... (full context)

...gets up early and goes out for a stroll. She is shocked to meet Mr. Macartney, who has come to find her and pay her back the money she leant him.... (full context)

Just then, Lord Orville comes out to look for Evelina. She quickly bids Mr. Macartney farewell, but he asks if he can meet her the next morning to repay her.... (full context)

Evelina plans to miss her meeting with Mr. Macartney the next day. However, she feels sorry for him and decides to write him a... (full context)

The next morning, Evelina sneaks out to meet Mr. Macartney but immediately meets Lord Orville in the garden. Although Lord Orville seems embarrassed, Evelina does... (full context)

...for breakfast. Evelina is delighted with Lord Orville’s conduct but regrets missing her meeting with Macartney. (full context)

...later, Evelina walks into Bristol with Mrs. Selwyn and Lord Orville and bumps into Mr. Macartney. He is not angry with Evelina for missing their meeting but wishes to repay her... (full context)

Lord Orville asks Evelina what she wants with Macartney, and Evelina says that she is desperate to talk with him but cannot say why.... (full context)

That evening, Lord Orville tells Evelina that Mr. Macartney will visit her the next day. When Macartney arrives, he gives Evelina back the money... (full context)

...the flattering poem about her that was found (which she assumes was written by Mr. Macartney), but Evelina notices Lord Orville watching and tries not to take it. Sir Clement forces... (full context)

When Evelina is alone, a servant enters and says that Mr. Macartney has come to see her. Evelina asks Macartney if he has spoken to his father,... (full context)

...that Mrs. Selwyn’s carriage is waiting to take Evelina to London. Lord Orville greets Mr. Macartney coldly, but Evelina explains that Macartney is her brother, and Lord Orville is delighted. Mrs.... (full context)

...and Evelina should both marry immediately to avoid any disgrace. Miss Belmont will marry Mr. Macartney, whom Sir John has reconciled with, and Evelina will marry Lord Orville, who has spoken... (full context)

...Belmont’s real identity will never be publicly exposed—she will now take the title of Mr. Macartney’s wife, and Mr. Macartney is also Sir John’s heir as he is his son—Evelina will... (full context)

...her out of the room. Outside, in the hallway, Evelina finds Lord Orville and Mr. Macartney waiting for her. Lord Orville comforts her, and Mr. Macartney tells her that his fiancée,... (full context)

...Clement and tells him that she does not want to hear from him again. Mr. Macartney then comes to see Evelina and gives her a note from Sir John that contains... (full context)

...her guardian. She and Lord Orville will be married in a few days, and Mr. Macartney and Miss Belmont will attend the wedding. (full context)

Mr. Macartney Character Analysis

Mr. Macartney Quotes in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World

Volume 3, Letter 5 Quotes

Mr. Macartney Character Timeline in Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World