# Captain Bellfield — Can You Forgive Her? character guide > Captain Bellfield in Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** that Captain Bellfield, Bellfield, Poor Bellfield **First appearance:** 0008-ix-the-rivals ## Snapshot A charming, penniless captain with debts at every shop and a smile for every creditor, he wins Mrs. Greenow's hand by needing her most. ## Who they are Bellfield lives on credit, charm, and the generosity of the very men he has fleeced, and his suit of Mrs. Greenow is frankly a rescue mission. Where Cheesacre offers substance, Bellfield offers helplessness, and the widow finds the latter irresistible. His exposure by Cheesacre as a man wanted by sheriff's officers nearly ends everything, but Mrs. Greenow's brisk pragmatism—debts can be paid—keeps him in play, making him the test case for whether affection can survive a bad balance sheet. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mr_cheesacre) _rivalry_ The two men are bitter rivals for the affections and fortune of Mrs. Greenow, engaging in petty schemes and public confrontations. ### [Mrs. Greenow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mrs_greenow) _romantic_ A charming but penniless fortune hunter, Captain Bellfield successfully woos Mrs. Greenow with flattery and wit, eventually winning her hand. ### [Kate Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/kate_vavasor) _social_ Captain Bellfield is polite and charming toward Kate as part of his courtship of her aunt, Mrs. Greenow. ### [Mrs. Greenow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mrs_greenow) _romantic_ A charming but penniless fortune hunter, Captain Bellfield successfully woos Mrs. Greenow with flattery and wit, eventually winning her hand. ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mr_cheesacre) _rivalry_ The two men are bitter rivals for the affections and fortune of Mrs. Greenow, engaging in petty schemes and public confrontations. ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mr_cheesacre) _rivalry_ The two men are bitter rivals for the affections and fortune of Mrs. Greenow, engaging in petty schemes and public confrontations. ### [Kate Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/kate_vavasor) _social_ Captain Bellfield is polite and charming toward Kate as part of his courtship of her aunt, Mrs. Greenow. ### [Mrs. Greenow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mrs_greenow) _romantic_ A charming but penniless fortune hunter, Captain Bellfield successfully woos Mrs. Greenow with flattery and wit, eventually winning her hand. ### [Kate Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/kate_vavasor) _social_ Captain Bellfield is polite and charming toward Kate as part of his courtship of her aunt, Mrs. Greenow. ## In the story ### [Aunt Greenow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/vii-aunt-greenow) A suspected former lieutenant who has sold out and is in debt; Mrs. Greenow disapproves of his attentions to Kate. ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/viii-mr-cheesacre) Dressed elaborately for the picnic and engages in flirtatious banter with Mrs. Greenow. ### [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/ix-the-rivals) A rival suitor who, despite owing Cheesacre money, assists with the picnic arrangements and dances with Kate Vavasor, irritating Cheesacre. ### [Tribute from Oileymead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xix-tribute-from-oileymead) Secretly visits Mrs. Greenow despite Cheesacre's attempts to keep him away; has obtained military employment in Norwich. ### [XX: Which Shall It Be?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xx-which-shall-it-be) Proposes to Mrs. Greenow during a private evening, claiming heroic military service, but is also refused. ### [Mr. Cheesacre's Hospitality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxxix-mr-cheesacre-s-hospitality) The rival suitor, living on lies and stratagems; he accepts Cheesacre's invitation, planning to continue his pursuit of Mrs. Greenow. ### [Mrs. Greenow's Little Dinner in the Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xl-mrs-greenow-s-little-dinner-in-the-close) Rival suitor to Cheesacre, takes Mrs. Greenow down to dinner, retrieves his luggage from Oileymead despite Cheesacre's plans. ### [Mr. Cheesacre's Disappointment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xlvii-mr-cheesacre-s-disappointment) Calls in the evening but is not admitted; Mrs. Greenow considers him as a potential husband despite his poverty. ### [The Rocks and Valleys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxiv-the-rocks-and-valleys) Arrives unexpectedly at Vavasor Hall, awkward and nervous, seeking to secure Mrs. Greenow's hand in marriage. ### [LXV: The First Kiss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxv-the-first-kiss) Receives the first kiss from Mrs. Greenow, is accused by Cheesacre of being wanted by the police, and agrees to marry and live in Westmoreland. ### [Mr. Cheesacre's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxxviii-mr-cheesacre-s-fate) About to marry Mrs. Greenow; lives with Cheesacre and tries to smooth over Cheesacre's grievances. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/captain_bellfield - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters