Charlotte Temple · Character

Belcour

Montraville's cynical comrade-in-arms, who treats seduction as sport and engineers a cruel deception to destroy Charlotte's reputation with her lover.

supporting

Also known as Mr. Belcour

First appearance: volume i iii unexpected misfortunes

As a supporting figure in Charlotte Temple, Belcour is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Montraville's brother officer, who accompanies him and dismisses Montraville's romantic interest.

In the storyI: A Boarding SchoolOpen this moment free

See Belcour in I: A Boarding School Book page

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Belcour is the novel's coldest voice, mocking Montraville's conscience and dismissing Charlotte's virtue as a triviality. He pursues his own designs on her while pretending friendship, and his willingness to stage a compromising scene reveals how little he regards the ruin of a young woman. His treachery in the middle chapters turns Montraville's wavering affection into abandonment, sealing Charlotte's downward course.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Belcour sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Belcour in volume i iii unexpected misfortunes

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how Belcour sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Friendship
Social
Other

Character groups

Main characters and antagonists
Protagonist

+5 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because Montraville reaches an emotional and psychological peak of internal confli…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Charlotte Temple
psychological · negative
Belcour manipulates and deceives Charlotte, acting as a predatory figure who exploits her… How this plays out →
Montraville
friendship · negative
Mademoiselle La Rue
psychological · negative
Julia Franklin
social · negative
Montraville
friendship · negative
Montraville
friendship · negative
Charlotte Temple
psychological · negative
Belcour manipulates and deceives Charlotte, acting as a predatory figure who exploits her… How this plays out →
Charlotte Temple
psychological · negative
Belcour manipulates and deceives Charlotte, acting as a predatory figure who exploits her… How this plays out →
Julia Franklin
social · negative
Julia Franklin
social · negative

Charlotte Temple
Belcour manipulates and deceives Charlotte, acting as a predatory figure who exploits her vulnerability.
Montraville
A toxic friendship built on shared debauchery, with Belcour encouraging Montraville's worst impulses toward Charlotte.
Mademoiselle La Rue
Co-conspirators in manipulation, with La Rue and Belcour working together to exploit Charlotte for their own gain.
Julia Franklin
Belcour attempts to ingratiate himself with Julia, but she sees through his false charm and rejects his advances.
Montraville
A toxic friendship built on shared debauchery, with Belcour encouraging Montraville's worst impulses toward Charlotte.
Montraville
A toxic friendship built on shared debauchery, with Belcour encouraging Montraville's worst impulses toward Charlotte.
Charlotte Temple
Belcour manipulates and deceives Charlotte, acting as a predatory figure who exploits her vulnerability.
Charlotte Temple
Belcour manipulates and deceives Charlotte, acting as a predatory figure who exploits her vulnerability.
Julia Franklin
Belcour attempts to ingratiate himself with Julia, but she sees through his false charm and rejects his advances.
Julia Franklin
Belcour attempts to ingratiate himself with Julia, but she sees through his false charm and rejects his advances.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Belcour in volume i iii unexpected misfortunes

In the story

Belcour appears across 13 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I: A Boarding School
Montraville's brother officer, who accompanies him and dismisses Montraville's romantic interest.
IX: We Know Not What a Day May Bring Forth
Introduced as a dissipated, selfish man who encourages Montraville's pursuit and plans to use La Rue to persuade Charlotte.
X: When We Have Excited Curiosity, It Is but an Act of Good Nature to Gratify It
Accompanies Montraville and is directed to ask Mademoiselle La Rue about Charlotte's prospects.
XI: Conflict of Love and Duty
Joins Montraville and La Rue in persuading Charlotte to elope.
XII: “How Thou Art Fall’n!”
Accompanies Montraville to the assignation, assisting in the elopement scheme.
XVI: Necessary Digression
Grows cloyed with La Rue and becomes attracted to Charlotte's simplicity, forming a dishonorable design to seduce her once Montraville leaves her.
A Wedding
Belcour is relieved to be rid of La Rue and cynically wishes her well, indifferent to the consequences for others.
XX: Virtue—When Most Amiable
Visits Charlotte and deliberately plants jealousy in her heart, hoping to drive a wedge between her and Montraville.
XXIII: A Man May Smile, and Smile, and Be a Villain
Schemes to ruin Charlotte's reputation by lying to Montraville and staging a compromising scene in her bedroom.
Mystery Developed
Deliberately lies beside Charlotte to deceive Montraville, bribes the servant to intercept letters, and later mocks Montraville's remorse.
XXVI: What Might Be Expected
Deceptively promises to deliver Montraville's letter and money to Charlotte, but secretly plots to ruin her and bring her under his power.
XXVII: “Like a Fair Lily”
Belcour visits Charlotte under the guise of friendship but schemes to seduce her. He cruelly reveals Montraville's marriage, then abandons her when she falls ill, pursuing a farmer's daughter instead.
Retribution
Found immersed in dissipation; evasive about Charlotte's fate; killed by Montraville in a duel.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Belcour unlock in the free preview.

See Belcour in volume i iii unexpected misfortunes

See Belcour in I: A Boarding School