Character
Descriptions
13 later 16 years old
Genius – far beyond anyone else in the play, a genius in a house full of idiots
Gemini – born in June (we know this from references in the play)
Dies in a fire the night of her 17th birthday (probably due to that candle she’s carrying around in the final scene – which is the night of her 17th birthday)
Enjoys Rabbit Pie
She’s like one of the natural beauties for which she is trying to find a math equation
Uncomplicated (p. 14)
Funny and Witty
Love of knowledge
Curious & Clever
Teases Noakes
Asks for help, seeks Septimus’ help and attention but isn’t afraid to challenge his truthfulness (or lack of it)
She is the revealer of “secrets” – she can’t stand or tolerate them and won’t…she locks onto the truth and won’t let go…obstinate…not stubborn, but she doesn’t give up until the mysteries are unlocked.
Makes Septimus’ job easy
Named after her father (?) and after Stoppard (?)
Ignored by her mother and raised by the servants, she is aware of the manners and social mores, but isn’t driven by them…she’s much more of a free spirit, aware of breaking the “rules” but they aren’t a priority for her unless adults are “watching” her.
The philosophical question of Thomasina and Septimus is: who is the student and who is the teacher?
(tutor, 22 later 25 years old)
See Wikipedia description of Byronic Hero below
Tutor
“…a gift for ridicule and a taste for seduction…”
He has no scruples about sexual liaisons until Thomasina (he’s a yes man until the end)
Avoids the honor of the dual through words and flattery
Lies and avoids in order to control (i.e. he “checks” Thomasina’s challenges and refuses her information)
Allows Chater’s diversion because he wants information
Poses physically and verbally.
Creates “drama” in order to draw attention and power to himself.
Full of righteous indignation (p. 4)
He’s quite adept at “turning a phrase” (so is Lady Croom)
Considers Thomasina cleverer than her elders (she may be the only one he truly respects)
Funny & witty (shared with Thomasina except he uses his humor to hurt other people)
Intelligent, but not even near the same ballpark as Thomasina (she’s a visionary)
Self-preserving
Arrogant
Rude
Separates sex and love
Love of knowledge (pursues information as power) and curious like Thomasina
His work is easy as Thomasina is a genius, but think he’s got a chip on his shoulder about the “class” issues and considers Lady Croom more of a “conquest” than really being in love with her (there are articles that disagree with me and consider him to be in love with her).
From Wikipedia: The Byronic hero is an idealized but flawed character exemplified in the life and writings of Lord Byron: characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline Lamb as being "mad, bad and dangerous to know". The Byronic hero first appears in Byron's semi-autobiographical epic narrative poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812-18). The Byronic hero has the following characteristics:
• conflicting emotions, bipolar tendencies, or moodiness
• self-critical and introspective
• struggles with integrity
• a distaste for social institutions and social norms
• being an exile, an outcast, or an outlaw
• a lack of respect for rank and privilege
• a troubled past
• being cynical, demanding, and/or arrogant
• often self-destructive
• troubles with sexual identity
• loner, often rejected from society
“Gentlemen” of the Times
Gentlemen were marked by the following characteristics: Courage, Unruly Temper, Proud, Chuckled at Insults, Brutes
Messenger
He’s obviously an “upper class” servant….
In cahoots with Thomasina (think she grew up in the kitchen with the servants who really parented her)
Think he lacks respect for Septimus and plays on the class issues (Septimus is as common as Jellaby is, and actually Jellaby has more sway and hold in terms of power in the household and would probably could get Septimus in “trouble” except Thomasina is happy and learning…so he’s safe for now.)
Wikipedia: “In Britain the butler was originally a middle ranking member of the staff of a grand household. In the 17th and 18th centuries the butler gradually became the usually senior male member of a household’s staff (in the very grandest households there was sometimes a steward who ran the entire estate, rather than just the household, and who was senior to the butler into the 19th century). Butlers used to always be attired in a special uniform…” This is interesting in that we never see the head of the household, Lord Croom. Lady Croom seems to run the place.
(Poet? Botanist? Buffoon? Aged 31.)
Self involved – it’s all about him all the time.
Ignores social mores and decorum (allows his feelings to drive his actions…he’s so emotional he breaks the social codes of manners and behavior – see excerpt from Principles of Politeness below).
Ignores the truth (chooses to remain blind)
Needs, wants, craves, has to have flattery - Invites false admiration and praise
Buffoon
His wife is cheating on him (with anything she can get her hands on) and he mostly cares about how it looks to other people…but enjoys obsessing about it.
The least intelligent of the regency bunch
Only a guest because Brice (Lady Croom’s brother) invited them and Brice invited them because he’s having an affair with Mrs. Chater (Charity).
He feels threatened all the time – probably utterly paranoid or maybe not; perhaps he can’t get focus off himself long enough to slip into paranoia.
Is he perhaps running out of money and needs a patron for his “poetry”?
A description from Principles of Politeness describes an “awkward fellow” and is an excellent character description of Chater:
“[When bowing and wearing a sword an awkward fellow’s sword will go between his legs and nearly throw him down.] Confused and ashamed, he fumbles to the upper end of the room, and seats himself in the very chair he should not. He there begins playing with his hat, which he…drops; and recovering his hat, he lets fall his cane; and in picking up his cane, down goes his hat again; and thus is a considerable time before he is adjusted. When his tea or coffee is handed to him, he spreads his handkerchief up on his knees, scalds his mouth, drops either the cup or the saucer, and spills the tea or coffee in his lap. At dinner he is more uncommonly awkward; there he tucks his napkin through a button hole, which tickles his chin, and occasions him to make a variety of wry faces; he seats himself upon the edge of the chair, at so great a distance from the table, that he frequently drops his meat between his plate and his mouth; he holds the knife, fork and spoon differently from other people; eats with his knife, to the manifest danger of his mouth; picks his teeth with his fork, rakes his mouth with his finger, and puts his spoon which has been in his throat a dozen times, into the dish again…his elbows are in the next person’s plate and he is up to the knuckles in soup and grease. If he drinks, it is with his mouth full, interrupting the whole company with, “To your good health Sir,” and “My service to you;” perhaps coughs in his glass, and besprinkles the whole table. Further, he has, perhaps, a number of disagreeable tricks, he snuffs up his nose, picks it with his fingers, blows it and looks in his handkerchief, crams his hands first into his bosom, and next into his breeches. In short, he neither dresses nor acts like any other person, but is particularly awkward in every thing he does. All this, I own, has nothing in it criminal; but it is such an offence to good manners and good breeding, that it is universally despised; it makes a man ridiculous in every company, and of course, ought carefully to be avoided by every one who would wish to please.”
(landskip architect who works in the picturesque style a la Slavator Rosa, middle aged.)
p. 9 “panics”…”embarrassed retreat”
considers himself an artist
Lady Croom’s current “flavor of the month” - until Septimus makes his way into her “good graces”
Gossip (he’s the one spreading the rumors about Septimus and Charity Chater – probably because he feels threatened by Septimus).
Very nervous as he knows that if Lady Croom isn’t happy he loses her patronage (I feel like he’s always had just one cuppa tea too many…)
Book smart but street naïve
Often stuck in the interior of his own thoughts and has trouble following the social happenings
(Head of the estate, Thomasina’s mother, Brice’s sister, middle thirties,)
Sibling rivalry?? “Do not dabble in paradox Edward, it puts you in danger of fortuitous wit.”
In Denise’s words she keeps replacing “heat” in her life through her affairs (we call them the “flavor of the month”) Noakes, Septimus, The Count…etc.
Think she married young to an older man. Perhaps she loves him, perhaps not.
Sweeps into the room – every time…all the world’s her stage, her platform, her grand staircase
Deeply infatuated with Lord Byron (who isn’t?)
Manages the household
Educated and clever and slick and doesn’t miss a trick, but it’s all surface and all eyes better be on her at all times or else she sends you packing (i.e. Brice and the Chaters in Act II). It’s her party and everybody is a guest and they’d better keep that in mind.
She’s beautiful and she keeps herself up very well.
Graceful, strong demeanor and carriage…a princess.
She was groomed to be this woman and have this life.
Don’t think she pays any attention to her children except to make sure they’re “correct” and don’t make her look badly in public.
Very attached to her “current” garden because of its “natural” beauty…beauty is very important to her (vanity)
Adept at “turning a phrase”
Considers the group of admiring men her “troops”
(Captain, Royal Navy, brother to Lady Croom, middle thirties)
Lady Croom’s brother.
In love with Charity Chater, or in lust, you choose.
Is the second and mostly the perpetrator of the dual(s)…he’s hoping Chater will die and he will have Charity all to himself (need I say more?)
Think he’s looking for a fight (as he jumps to all kind of conclusions in the first scene about ruined children and ruined landscapes)
Single-minded and literal – it is what it is and what it is is what he says it is…unless his sister is talking and then he has to shut up because her title trumps his (hence his anger...has she always done this even since childhood?)
Pomp and Circumstance
Are the siblings virtual strangers and “standing on ceremony”?
Rambunctious
Nuisance
Apologetic for his “Lording” over Septimus when Thomasina scolds him (like when Lady Croom scolds Brice)
What has Thomasina told him about “carnal embrace” - the truth or the meat version? Either will cause his great vexation and disgust as no one has talked to him about sex, ever.
He’s a naïve, sheltered, arrogant, scared teenager (need I say more?)
Think he gets his heart and humility from Thomasina’s influence or maybe he’s just desperate to know about sex and so he apologizes to Septimus in order to get the information.
Current Time
(an author, late 30’s)
She wears nothing frivolous, but very intentional about what she wears, could be vain in a very nonchalant, “look at me pretend not to be vain” sort of way.
“I don’t know a worse bargain. Available sex against not being allowed to fart in bed.” p. 63
Intelligent (but not mathematically inclined)
“As you get older, it gets less important” (sex)
As unpretentious as Bernard is pretentious
Honest to a fault (it’s gotten her in trouble all her life, but it’s the thing she likes most about herself)
Very aware of being a woman in a man’s world and works hard to maintain that balance
Practical, straight forward, no nonsense
Multitasker
Thinks that the aesthetic move from thinking (classical) to feeling (romantic) is a “decline”
Ambitious but not in Bernard’s careless, irresponsible way
Suspicious of men, but comfortable as “one of the guys”.
“I don’t dance.” Until the end
Passionate about a mystery or a puzzle
Interested in knowledge and learning
Does care about what others think of her, tries really hard not to.
“I’ve always been given credit for my unconcern.”
Living vicariously in the past of the characters in her book (Lord Byron and Caroline Lamb), until the very end where she chooses to “dance” herself.
(aristocrat,18 years old)
“Knows how to vote on her back” and is completely comfortable with her sexual pursuits (who cares what they think!) Not at all self conscious.
Hard worker (in terms of “doing” for others…fixing tea, bringing the paper, etc.)
Not ambitions, but probably reckless in terms of getting what she wants (i.e. Bernard).
May do things just to get a rise out of her mother? Maybe not.
When she gets bored with something, she’s done.
Fickle
Casual chic (owns hundreds of white tee shirts which cost several hundred a piece) but then has the feeling she has “nothing to wear”
Purposeful about herself
Conscientious – i.e. asks Hannah first if she’s interested in Bernard before going after him herself.
“The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it’s trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people fancying people who aren’t supposed to be in that part of the plan.” p. 73
(22 yrs old)
“I often sit with my eyes closed and it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m awake.”
Openly asks Bernard if he’s “queer” – straightforward.
Very intelligent
Calls Hannah his fiancé and is “quite taken” with her…many reviews say “in love with” her and his feelings toward her are “more carnal” than Gus’ feelings for her.
Mild mannered
Finds wonder and beauty in math
Asks Hannah to sleep with him and they can forget about it the next day
Refuses (several times) to believe that Thomasina could possibly have seen and understood maths that didn’t show up for over 100 years after her death – “you can’t open a door till there’s a house” p. 79
It’s the best possible time to be alive, when almost everything you thought you knew is wrong.” p. 48
Highly Sensitive
Very tuned into and understands Gus
Dressed flamboyantly but damped down for the occasion (slightly)
Is not generous about giving credit where credit is due
He calls Hannah “dickhead” when she says “don’t call me darling”
Peacock
Insecure (wildly)
Aggressive
The kind of guy who still lives at home with his mother because she waits on him and does all the kind of work he would think is beneath him.
Exotic bird – something very attractive and charming about him otherwise Chloe wouldn’t go for him
Professionally ballsy or reckless depending on how you look at it
Witty and good at banter/repartee/rhetoric (but there’s not a real feeling behind any of it) – so he’s a brilliant “speaker”
Shows up unannounced at an aristocratic estate
One night stands comprise his relationship history
Overly enthusiastic about himself and his ideas
Excitable
Probably very fun at a party
Unreliable unless it suits him.
“Gus doesn’t speak. He never speaks. Perhaps he cannot speak. He has no composure and faced with a stranger, he caves in and leaves again”
[He spoke] until he was 5.
His mother and Chloe call him genius
Musical genius
He finds things in the house and on the grounds that other people can’t find (i.e. the foundations of Capability Brown’s boat-house p. 48 and the picture of Septimus and Plautus which he presents to Hannah at the end of the show)
Not autistic, but very sensitive to noise, anger and arguments; and if things upset him, he’s REALLY REALLY upset as he has trouble internalizing what disturbs him. But not many things upset him.
Gentle and Kind
Ok with his awkwardness and silence (it’s by choice – this is my interpretation)
Probably tends to broken things, animals, devices, people, plants.
Gardens with the gardeners; hangs out in the kitchens
Reads everything he can get his hands on
He’s everybody’s “boy” – they all adore and take care of him.
His silence (as with all characters who have a “sense” loss i.e. blind prophets in Greek dramas) gives him a more keen sensibility to the subtle, interior relationships between people and places, people and things, people and people…he sees/senses what the others cannot.
Silent but provides “noise” (piano)
Brice/Lady Croom, Thomasina/Augustus (similarities), Valentine/Chloe – a sister brother thing going on.
there is a genuine connecting, caring, respect and kindness between the family (as opposed to the academics who are like “bulls through the china shop” of their lives).
