Ledroptha Curtain Character Analysis in The Mysterious Benedict Society

Mr. Curtain is the primary antagonist of the story. He is an egomaniacal man whose obsession with control is enabled by his mechanical genius. He has constructed a machine, the Whisperer, which transmits mind-controlling messages around the word, and other machines that “brainsweep” (erase the memories of) his enemies. Mr. Curtain is the founder of the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where he trains children to transmit subliminal messages and ultimately join his workforce as Executives. He is also Mr. Benedict’s twin brother. The two were born in Holland, but after being orphaned, the twins were separated and raised apart, so neither man knows of the other until the Mysterious Benedict Society infiltrates the Institute. Mr. Curtain plans to use his Whisperer to take over the world by causing the mass hysteria of the Emergency and then purporting to fix it. His inflated self-importance proves to be his undoing: he believes that children are too simple-minded to match his genius, so he does not suspect the Mysterious Benedict Society until they confront him head-on. In this confrontation, Reynie easily manipulates Mr. Curtain into revealing that anger is the trigger for his narcolepsy. The children stoke Mr. Curtain’s temper, and they are able to put him to sleep long enough to defeat him. Mr. Curtain hides his narcolepsy by using a wheelchair and wearing mirrored sunglasses, revealing that his need for control and skill with propaganda extend to his own self-image.

Ledroptha Curtain Quotes in The Mysterious Benedict Society

The The Mysterious Benedict Society quotes below are all either spoken by Ledroptha Curtain or refer to Ledroptha Curtain. 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:

Exploring was what she did best, and Kate liked always to be doing what she did best. Not that she was a bad sport; in fact, she was a very good one, and she rarely complained. But Kate had spent all her life––ever since her father abandoned her, which affected her more than she cared to admit––trying to prove she didn’t need anyone’s help, and this was easiest to believe when she was doing what she was good at.

Related Characters: Ledroptha Curtain, Kate Wetherall

Page Number and Citation: 160

Explanation and Analysis:

“Children despise superior minds, you know, especially in leaders, who must often make unpopular decisions.”

Reynie thought suddenly of Kate and Sticky, who had been so shocked at his suggestion to cheat on the quizzes. But they didn’t despise him, he knew that….

“One problem with being a leader,” Mr. Curtain was saying, “is that even among your friends you are alone, for it is you––and you alone––to whom the others look for final guidance.” (Reynie felt a pang. That was true, he thought. He did feel that way sometimes.)

Related Characters: Ledroptha Curtain (speaker), Reynie Muldoon

Page Number and Citation: 241-242

Explanation and Analysis:

“No one seems to realize how much we are driven by FEAR, the essential component of human personality. Everything else––from ambition to love to despair––derives in some way from this single powerful emotion. Must find some way to make use of this.”

Related Characters: Ledroptha Curtain (speaker)

Related Symbols: The Emergency

Page Number and Citation: 267

Explanation and Analysis:

It has to be all four of us, but Constance can’t handle them. You can handle them, though. It will be rough, but you can handle them.

(Part of Kate believed this––a very important part, for Kate’s sense of invincibility was the main thing that had sustained her all her young life alone. But another part did not believe this––and it, too, was an important part, for unless you know about this part it is impossible to understand how brave a thing Kate was about to do.)

Related Characters: Kate Wetherall (speaker), Constance Contraire, Reynie Muldoon, Ledroptha Curtain, Sticky Washington

Page Number and Citation: 434

Explanation and Analysis:

“Mr. Benedict! Is he the one who tricked you into joining him, who encouraged you to cheat on quizzes, who offered you ‘special opportunities’? Or was that Mr. Curtain, who said cheating doesn’t bother him, who rounded up poor unfortunates only to give them a better life, who has offered you a chance to be an Executive? How different are the two men? Not very, Reynard. The only difference is that one can offer you only suffering now, while the other offers you a way to belong––a way to relieve the loneliness.”

Related Characters: Reynie Muldoon (speaker), Mr. Benedict, Ledroptha Curtain

Page Number and Citation: 440

Explanation and Analysis:

For a moment Constance and Mr. Curtain both trembled violently, as if caught in an earthquake….And then, in a voice so loud it hurt everybody’s ears, Constance exclaimed: “I…don’t…CARE!”

… This was Constance’s great gift––the gift of stubborn independence––and she was bringing it to bear with all her might.

For all her valiant resistance, though, the child was, after all, only a child….She could not hold out forever.

Related Characters: Constance Contraire (speaker), Ledroptha Curtain

Page Number and Citation: 458-459

Explanation and Analysis:

Ledroptha Curtain Character Timeline in The Mysterious Benedict Society

The timeline below shows where the character Ledroptha Curtain appears in The Mysterious Benedict Society. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...are considered the best in the world and were invented by a scientist named Ledroptha Curtain. Ledroptha Curtain is certainly the Sender, but his plan is unclear. The turbines generate enough... (full context)

Sticky asks if the Curtain’s success would really be so bad. Mr. Benedict grimly suggests that it would be especially... (full context)

...Jackson and Jillson. Jackson adds that after the orientation tour, the children will meet Mr. Curtain. (full context)

...have to become top students and earn the rank of Messengers themselves to learn Mr. Curtain’s plan. Kate suggests exploring before their tour. The boys agree, but Constance is tired. She... (full context)

...children a tour of the island. They pass a mine, and Jillson explains that Mr. Curtain built his fortune by bringing a colony of miners to the island. He used that... (full context)

Jackson and Jillson leave the children alone in a classroom to wait for Mr. Curtain. Kate wonders why the Executives would warn them about the mine shafts when they are... (full context)

Jillson announces Mr. Curtain’s entrance. He comes in on a technologically advanced wheelchair and wears large reflective glasses that... (full context)

Mr. Curtain approaches Reynie and asks why the boy is staring at him, which makes Reynie understand... (full context)

...gone, Kate and Constance come down through the ceiling panel. The children puzzle over Mr. Curtain’s identity, and Reynie suggests they send a message to the shore. If they haven’t been... (full context)

...flashlight to send a brief, cryptic message in Morse to the mainland, conveying that Mr. Curtain is Mr. Benedict. A long time passes without a response, until finally the children receive... (full context)

...“looking glass” in the riddle must refer to a telescope, so Mr. Benedict saw Mr. Curtain through his telescope only that day. Because Mr. Benedict was an orphan, he and his... (full context)

The Institute’s curriculum has been designed by Mr. Curtain, and when a class runs through all the lessons, they repeat them from the beginning.... (full context)

...order their lunches from a Helper, and they both reflect on the deference that Mr. Curtain demands from the Helpers. They are not allowed to speak to or make eye contact... (full context)

...classes, the Mysterious Benedict Society meets in the plaza. Instead of talking, they watch Mr. Curtain, who is also in the plaza. He sits in his wheelchair going through a stack... (full context)

...hall and commands a Messenger to go to the Waiting Room, by order of Mr. Curtain. The Messenger is horrified, but Jackson coerces him into obedience. Another girl in the hall... (full context)

...with the hidden messages. They prepare to report their findings to Mr. Benedict, but Mr. Curtain and some Executives are in a position outside to see the message, so the children... (full context)

...and if they don’t hear something. She trails off before elaborating. Reynie realizes that Mr. Curtain must be boosting the power, which is causing the children’s minds to react to the... (full context)

...love of truth might not be as powerful as his friends’. Constance argues that Mr. Curtain is the real deceiver, and they need to beat him at his own game. The... (full context)

Reynie runs into Mr. Curtain, who assumes Reynie is disappointed at not being a Messenger. With condescension, he claims that... (full context)

Mr. Curtain speeds down the corridors in his wheelchair, and Reynie has to run to keep up.... (full context)

Mr. Curtain moves to his desk and marks something in a journal. He tells Reynie that he... (full context)

Mr. Curtain tells Reynie that he is on track to become an Executive. Reynie is surprised, and... (full context)

...Helpers, like Milligan and the missing government agents, have had their memories stolen by Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain kidnaps people who stand in his way, wipes their memories, and converts them... (full context)

...memory-wiping causes deep sadness when it robs people of all their memories, but when Mr. Curtain targets specific memories, the process only causes confusion. Reynie recalls that the school facilities inspector... (full context)

That night, the children are subdued. Now that they know some aspects of Mr. Curtain’s plan, they miss not knowing them. They know that since they’re children, without proof, nobody... (full context)

...people who have lost their memories. Sticky wishes they could lay their hands on Mr. Curtain’s journal, and his phrasing of that thought gives Reynie an idea. (full context)

Mr. Curtain sits in his usual place in the plaza when Reynie approaches him. He explains that... (full context)

...and Sticky stands on her back, peering through her spyglass. He has been watching Mr. Curtain turn the pages in his journal, though Sticky is only able to make out portions... (full context)

Later, Sticky tries to reproduce what he saw in Mr. Curtain’s journal. The passages reveal that Mr. Curtain believes humans are driven by fear, and he... (full context)

...Constance looks terrified, and Reynie shares her fear. If Sticky reveals their secrets to Mr. Curtain, it will be the end of their mission and the start of real mortal danger. (full context)

...plan to split up. Reynie worries that he will never see Kate again, after Mr. Curtain catches and brainsweeps him. Reynie thanks Kate for her help. She makes a joke, and... (full context)

...has been brainswept, and since cheating wouldn’t warrant that punishment, Sticky must have told Mr. Curtain everything. (full context)

...him, and Sticky snaps that he doesn’t want to talk about the Waiting Room. Mr. Curtain didn’t meet with him today, so tomorrow Sticky will either have to go back to... (full context)

...Room, and Reynie wonders why. S.Q. comes to pick Sticky up to meet with Mr. Curtain. He tries to give Sticky advice, but he stumbles over his words and ends up... (full context)

...Messenger that only she can hear. Reynie wonders what will happen to her when Mr. Curtain boosts the signal power all the way. S.Q. comes over, surprised that Sticky and Reynie... (full context)

That night, S.Q. Pedalian brings Reynie and Sticky to speak with Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain tells the boys that he has made Martina an Executive partly because of... (full context)

...“a place you must exit to enter.” The message is cut short, though, when Mr. Curtain comes out to the plaza, and the children are left unsure what the message is... (full context)

Mr. Curtain is waiting for Sticky and Reynie in the Whispering Gallery. Once inside, they remove their... (full context)

Mr. Curtain boasts that despite its simple appearance, the Whisperer is an incredible invention. He explains that... (full context)

Mr. Curtain holds up a package and asks the boys how many items he is holding. Reynie... (full context)

Mr. Curtain tells Reynie to take his turn in the Whisperer first, after which Sticky will have... (full context)

Before he gives in entirely to the Whisperer, Reynie tries to determine if Mr. Curtain can hear his thoughts through the device. It doesn’t seem like he can, so Reynie... (full context)

...day, Reynie and Sticky tell Kate and Constance about the Whisperer. They reveal that Mr. Curtain is considering training Reynie and Sticky as Executives after the Improvement, and that they would... (full context)

...the voice she is hearing in the hidden broadcast is Reynie’s. Sticky realizes that Mr. Curtain can record thoughts, and Reynie notes that Mr. Curtain’s journal entries suggest this is a... (full context)

Reynie suspects that once Mr. Curtain has all his messages recorded, he will boost them to full-strength. Reynie doesn’t mention this,... (full context)

...the stone door swings open. Reynie realizes the doors must be built to accommodate Mr. Curtain’s love of speed and his habit of ramming his wheelchair into doors. The children enter,... (full context)

...be a trap. They have no chance to investigate further, however, because Kate hears Mr. Curtain’s wheelchair approaching. The children hurry through the door. (full context)

...members of the Mysterious Benedict Society cram themselves into a crate to hide as Mr. Curtain comes in. Within the crate, Sticky desperately gestures to Kate, and she sees that his... (full context)

A few minutes later, Mr. Curtain leaves the room, and the children get out of the crate. Sticky looks through the... (full context)

They find another press release claiming Mr. Curtain is the best man to handle the “amnesia epidemic.” Further research indicates this is another... (full context)

...matter where they go, since they don’t know what will happen to her once Mr. Curtain boosts the power all the way. Reynie realizes that they can’t leave. He is ashamed... (full context)

Reynie has a nightmare about leaving his friends behind to join Mr. Curtain. He spends the day worrying about the evening’s Mysterious Benedict Society meeting, since he knows... (full context)

...a vent, Kate overhears S.Q. Pedalian bringing Martina Crowe to a tutorial meeting with Mr. Curtain. She follows them to eavesdrop on this conversation. In the meeting, Mr. Curtain explains to... (full context)

S.Q. doesn’t grasp Mr. Curtain’s plan, but he is excited that the whole world will be happy. Mr. Curtain assures... (full context)

From her hiding place in the drain, Kate hears Mr. Curtain send S.Q. away. She suspects a trap and hurries out of the culvert. As she... (full context)

...she managed to sabotage the computers. Constance fears what will happen to her once Mr. Curtain boosts his messages to full power. As Reynie thinks that he can’t face the Whisperer,... (full context)

...them will have to push the button to open the door, which is on Mr. Curtain’s wheelchair. They have no plan for that, nor for how Kate and Constance will get... (full context)

...enough for Reynie to signal Constance and Kate. Sticky is horrified. He argues that Mr. Curtain will notice his resistance and brainsweep him. Reynie insists this is their only chance, and... (full context)

...Crowe on their way in. Reynie is drawn to the Whisperer, but he resists. Mr. Curtain greets them and reveals that Reynie and Sticky will be the last Messengers, as he... (full context)

...again he answers with his nickname. Reynie wonders how long Sticky can hold on. Mr. Curtain, who is also attached to the Whisperer, closes his eyes in concentration. Reynie uses this... (full context)

...suspicious. Martina identifies the distant beeping as Morse code, and the two hurry to Mr. Curtain’s office to decode it with a code book. They realize Kate and Constance are spies. (full context)

After a great deal of effort, Sticky stops resisting the Whisperer. Mr. Curtain is frustrated, and he begins to suspect that Sticky might be untrustworthy, but he calms... (full context)

Mr. Curtain scolds Sticky for his performance in the Whisperer, and then he turns to Reynie for... (full context)

...Constance’s rude rhymes. Constance herself appears in the window, demanding to be let inside. Mr. Curtain is frustrated, but Reynie points out he will not be able to concentrate with Constance’s... (full context)

Sticky helps Reynie pull Constance inside. Mr. Curtain remarks that he always knew Constance couldn’t be trusted, and that he would have taken... (full context)

Mr. Curtain looms over the children, outraged that they would betray him after all he has done... (full context)

Mr. Curtain wakes up, but Constance sends him back to sleep by calling him a fool for... (full context)

Mr. Curtain wakes up and laughs that the Whisperer will only turn on if he is attached... (full context)

Mr. Curtain starts trying to brainsweep the children. Reynie urges his friends to think of everything they... (full context)

...name, instead shouting her friends’ names and nicknames. The brainsweeping stops, and Reynie realizes Mr. Curtain is focusing all his power on Constance. She is resisting, and her “gift of stubborn... (full context)

Constance is weakening under the strain of the Whisperer, and though Mr. Curtain is also exhausted, he smugly boasts that he will soon beat the little girl. A... (full context)

Milligan lays the sleeping Mr. Curtain on the floor as Rhonda ushers the children to the secret exit and Mr. Benedict... (full context)

...the passage and out to the shore, where a boat is waiting. Milligan drops Mr. Curtain on the ground to help the children into the boat. Everyone is climbing onto the... (full context)

Sticky asks what will happen if Mr. Curtain stops Mr. Benedict from disabling the Whisperer, and Rhonda answers that Mr. Benedict has instructed... (full context)

...will stay with her, or she will go with him. Reynie alerts everyone to Mr. Curtain, who is leading a troop of Recruiters across the bridge toward them. Milligan plans to... (full context)

Mr. Curtain stops at the end of the bridge. He orders the Recruiters to turn back, insisting... (full context)

Mr. Curtain escapes the island, but Mr. Benedict successfully convinces governmental officials to raid the Institute. His... (full context)

...Benedict explains he finished what the children began. He convinced the Whisperer he was Mr. Curtain and gave it orders that confused it beyond function. (full context)

...ran away, Sticky’s parents became ashamed of how they had treated him. Influenced by Mr. Curtain’s messages, they convinced themselves Sticky was “better off” without them. Sticky recalls hearing this phrase,... (full context)

Ledroptha Curtain Character Analysis

Ledroptha Curtain Quotes in The Mysterious Benedict Society

Chapter 10 Quotes

Chapter 18 Quotes

Chapter 21 Quotes

Chapter 35 Quotes

Chapter 36 Quotes

Chapter 37 Quotes

Ledroptha Curtain Character Timeline in The Mysterious Benedict Society