Walter Hartright Character Analysis

By Stephen Bray

Walter Hartright is the Book's male hero. No doubt drawing upon his own family of origin, (Collins's father was an eminent painter, and his maternal grandfather was also of the same occupation), the author casts Hartright in the initial role of a dutiful son. Later through trial and endurance he makes a right of passage into maturity and fatherhood.

Collins lived with his mother until he was 34 years of age, long after his father's death. During this period her house was frequented by artists of various description many of whom were Collins friends. We must conclude that Hartright's character is also a composite of some of these men, and naturally owes much to Collins' own character.

At the beginning of the story he although takes action in following Pesca's recommendation and securing work in distant Cumberland, and also when he helps 'The Woman In White', Hartright is full of self doubt. When he reaches Cumberland and falls in love with Laura Fairlie his actions are determined largely by Marian Halcombe.

It is only after Walter separates from mother, (and mother country), to enjoy the perils of the life of an explorer where he faces various privations that he becomes the resolute character of the third epoch of the book. But we don't witness his adventures, or transformation.

In the third and final epoch of the story Hartright is far more resolute. Instead of seeking guidance from women, his mother, Marian Halcombe, or his wife Laura he makes his own decisions, frequently informing Marian of them, and rarely Laura.

By the end of the story he is prepared to go to virtually any length to achieve his means. For example he attempts to discover Percival Glyde's secret in order to put him under pressure. He does the same thing with Fosco, and as far as both are concerned with deadly effect.

But Collins artfully wins us, his readers over to Hartright's cause, (which is also the same as that of Marian Halcombe and Laura Fairlie) by a careful manipulation of 'fate'. Although Hartright's actions are influential in the deaths or Glyde and Fosco, Hartright himself never has to act directly to bring the deaths about. Indeed in the case of Glyde, Hartright attempts to rescue him from a burning building. By this mean Collins masks from us Hartright's ruthlessness is resorting to forms of coercion that threaten the lives of his adversaries.

In the course of the story Hartright moves from being a member of the artisan classes, to that of a country gentleman. This is possible because of his marriage to Laura Fairlie. It is notable that Percival Glyde married Laura in order to preserve his own ability to function as such. In this sense Glyde is perhaps a 'shadow image' of Hartright.