# Burgo Fitzgerald — Can You Forgive Her? character guide > Burgo Fitzgerald in Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Burgo, Burgo Fitzgerald, poor Burgo **First appearance:** 0028-xxix-burgo-fitzgerald ## Snapshot Lady Glencora's handsome, reckless former suitor, a gambler and spendthrift whose ruinous charm still holds her heart hostage. ## Who they are Burgo Fitzgerald is everything a husband should not be—drunk, idle, in debt, and devastatingly attractive—and Lady Glencora knows it better than anyone. She does not deceive herself about his character; she simply cannot stop loving him, and that knowledge makes her dangerous to herself and to her husband's career. His presence in the early arc forces the question the novel keeps asking: whether passion can be reasoned away, and whether a woman's self-worth can survive the answer. ## Relationships ### [Lady Glencora Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/lady_glencora_palliser) _romantic_ Burgo is Glencora's former lover, a charming but dissolute man whose lingering presence tempts her away from her marriage. ### [Plantagenet Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/plantagenet_palliser) _rivalry_ Burgo is Plantagenet's romantic rival for Glencora's heart, representing the passionate past versus the dutiful present. ### [Lady Glencora Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/lady_glencora_palliser) _romantic_ Burgo is Glencora's former lover, a charming but dissolute man whose lingering presence tempts her away from her marriage. ### [Lady Glencora Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/lady_glencora_palliser) _romantic_ Burgo is Glencora's former lover, a charming but dissolute man whose lingering presence tempts her away from her marriage. ### [Plantagenet Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/plantagenet_palliser) _rivalry_ Burgo is Plantagenet's romantic rival for Glencora's heart, representing the passionate past versus the dutiful present. ### [Plantagenet Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/plantagenet_palliser) _rivalry_ Burgo is Plantagenet's romantic rival for Glencora's heart, representing the passionate past versus the dutiful present. ## In the story ### [Alice Vavasor's Great Relations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xviii-alice-vavasor-s-great-relations) His background, handsome appearance, reckless lifestyle, and failed attempt to marry Lady Glencora are described. ### [Alice Is Taught to Grow Upwards, Towards the Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxi-alice-is-taught-to-grow-upwards-towards-the-light) Burgo Fitzgerald is mentioned as the source from whom George learned of Alice's visit to Matching Priory. ### [Three Politicians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxiv-three-politicians) Referenced as Lady Glencora's former lover, whose memory lingers due to her husband's lack of tenderness. ### [In Which Much of the History of the Pallisers Is Told](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxv-in-which-much-of-the-history-of-the-pallisers-is-told) Referenced by Lady Glencora as the man she loved and still thinks about. ### [The Priory Ruins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxvii-the-priory-ruins) Mentioned as the man Lady Glencora truly loves; she confesses her constant thoughts of him and fears meeting him at Monkshade. ### [XXIX: Burgo Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxix-burgo-fitzgerald) Burgo is the central figure of the chapter, plotting to rekindle his relationship with Lady Glencora Palliser. He is depicted as handsome but dissipated, drinking heavily and contemplating an elopement despite his self-awareness of his ruined state. ### [XXX: Containing a Love Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxx-containing-a-love-letter) Sends a note to George about a bill and money collection; George collects funds on his behalf. ### [Monkshade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxxiii-monkshade) Already at Monkshade, reacts with despair upon learning Lady Glencora will not come, and confronts his aunt. ### [Parliament Meets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xlii-parliament-meets) Implied as the source of a secret letter delivered to Lady Glencora at Matching Priory. ### [XLIII: Mrs. Marsham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xliii-mrs-marsham) Mentioned in Lady Glencora's romantic fantasies as the ideal lover she could have married. ### [Preparations for Lady Monk's Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xlviii-preparations-for-lady-monk-s-party) Stays with his aunt, Lady Monk, and pressures her for money to fund an elopement with Lady Glencora. ### [XLIX: How Lady Glencora Went to Lady Monk’s Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xlix-how-lady-glencora-went-to-lady-monk-s-party) Present at the party, his eye fixed on Lady Glencora as Plantagenet leaves. ### [How Lady Glencora Came Back from Lady Monk's Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/l-how-lady-glencora-came-back-from-lady-monk-s-party) Leans against the wall in solemn thought about the morality of his plan, then dances with Lady Glencora and presses her about his letter. ### [The Pallisers at Breakfast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lviii-the-pallisers-at-breakfast) Mentioned in Glencora's thoughts as the man she loves, though she acknowledges his unworthiness. He disappeared from the scene after the party. ### [The Duke of St. Bungay in Search of a Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lix-the-duke-of-st-bungay-in-search-of-a-minister) Referenced as the object of Lady Glencora's love; his letter is destroyed. ### [Going Abroad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxii-going-abroad) Burgo is the man with whom Lady Glencora nearly eloped. He is mentioned as having urged her to leave her husband, but does not appear in the chapter. ### [Lady Monk's Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxvi-lady-monk-s-plan) Disappears after the party, abandons his planned elopement, and later conspires with his aunt to abduct Lady Glencora. ### [LXVII: The Last Kiss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxvii-the-last-kiss) Visits Lady Glencora and asks her to run away with him; after her refusal, he blames himself for letting his aunt take the banknotes. ### [LXXV: Rouge et Noir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxxv-rouge-et-noir) Observed gambling at the casino, appearing disheveled and reckless, causing Lady Glencora to react with distress. ### [The Landlord's Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxxvi-the-landlord-s-bill) In deep despair and financial ruin, confesses his love for Lady Glencora to Palliser, but refuses direct aid out of pride, though he accepts indirect help. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/burgo_fitzgerald - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters