# Montraville — Charlotte Temple character guide > Montraville in Charlotte Temple by Susanna Haswell Rowson. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dear Montraville, the wretched Montraville **First appearance:** 0002-charlotte-temple ## Snapshot A British officer whose passion for Charlotte curdles into guilt and neglect once a worthier woman, Julia Franklin, crosses his path in America. ## Who they are Montraville is a soldier of feeling rather than principle, capable of genuine remorse yet too weak to let it govern his conduct. He seduces Charlotte believing himself in love, then discovers his heart is more fickle than he imagined when Julia appears. His divided affections and evasions drive the middle of the novel, where Charlotte's security depends entirely on a man already drifting away. ## Relationships ### [Charlotte Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/charlotte_temple) _romantic_ A tragic romantic entanglement where Montraville seduces and abandons the naive Charlotte, leading to her ruin. ### [Julia Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/julia_franklin) _romantic_ A more socially acceptable romantic interest for Montraville, representing the respectable match he ultimately chooses over Charlotte. ### [Belcour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/belcour) _friendship_ A toxic friendship built on shared debauchery, with Belcour encouraging Montraville's worst impulses toward Charlotte. ### [Mademoiselle La Rue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/mademoiselle_la_rue) _psychological_ La Rue acts as an intermediary and enabler, helping Montraville access Charlotte while pursuing her own selfish interests. ### [Henry Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/henry_temple) _rivalry_ Henry Temple views Montraville as the villain who destroyed his daughter's life, creating deep animosity. ### [Charlotte Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/charlotte_temple) _romantic_ A tragic romantic entanglement where Montraville seduces and abandons the naive Charlotte, leading to her ruin. ### [Charlotte Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/charlotte_temple) _romantic_ A tragic romantic entanglement where Montraville seduces and abandons the naive Charlotte, leading to her ruin. ### [Julia Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/julia_franklin) _romantic_ A more socially acceptable romantic interest for Montraville, representing the respectable match he ultimately chooses over Charlotte. ### [Belcour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/belcour) _friendship_ A toxic friendship built on shared debauchery, with Belcour encouraging Montraville's worst impulses toward Charlotte. ### [Belcour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/belcour) _friendship_ A toxic friendship built on shared debauchery, with Belcour encouraging Montraville's worst impulses toward Charlotte. ### [Mademoiselle La Rue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/mademoiselle_la_rue) _psychological_ La Rue acts as an intermediary and enabler, helping Montraville access Charlotte while pursuing her own selfish interests. ### [Julia Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/julia_franklin) _romantic_ A more socially acceptable romantic interest for Montraville, representing the respectable match he ultimately chooses over Charlotte. ## In the story ### [Charlotte Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/charlotte-temple) The seducer who first sees Charlotte and begins his pursuit, leading to her eventual ruin. ### [I: A Boarding School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-i-a-boarding-school) A lieutenant in the army, he becomes infatuated with Charlotte after seeing her at church and schemes to meet her again. ### [An Intriguing Teacher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-vi-an-intriguing-teacher) Accosts Charlotte in the field, gives her a letter full of flattery and vows, and is described as a handsome young soldier whose military attire makes him dangerously attractive. ### [VII: Natural Sense of Propriety Inherent in the Female Bosom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-vii-natural-sense-of-propriety-inherent-in-the-female-bosom) Montraville is the subject of Charlotte's conflicted feelings; his letter, delivered by La Rue, awakens new emotions in Charlotte and leads to the planned meeting. ### [IX: We Know Not What a Day May Bring Forth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-ix-we-know-not-what-a-day-may-bring-forth) Ardent and respectful, he persuades Charlotte to meet him again, despite knowing he cannot marry her. ### [X: When We Have Excited Curiosity, It Is but an Act of Good Nature to Gratify It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-x-when-we-have-excited-curiosity-it-is-but-an-act-of-good-nature-to-gratify-it) Reflects on his father's advice and instructs Belcour to inquire about Charlotte's fortune. ### [XI: Conflict of Love and Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-xi-conflict-of-love-and-duty) Manipulates Charlotte's emotions, threatening to leave her forever to secure her consent to elope. ### [XII: “How Thou Art Fall’n!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-xii-how-thou-art-fall-n) Waits at the assignation, uses emotional pleas and threats of suicide to overcome Charlotte's objections, and physically lifts her into the chaise. ### [XV: Embarkation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-xv-embarkation) Supports Charlotte's spirits during the journey but tears up her letter to prevent it from reaching Mr. Temple. ### [XVI: Necessary Digression](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-xvi-necessary-digression) Shows kindness and attention to Charlotte during the voyage, though he does not intend to marry her. ### [A Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-i-xvii-a-wedding) Montraville dismisses Charlotte's concerns about La Rue's marriage, calling her naive, and leaves her when she becomes upset. ### [XVIII: Reflections](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xviii-reflections) Visits Charlotte infrequently, often breaking promises, leaving her to mourn his absence. ### [XIX: A Mistake Discovered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xix-a-mistake-discovered) Returns the jewel box to Julia Franklin and becomes infatuated with her, realizing he may not truly love Charlotte. ### [XX: Virtue—When Most Amiable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xx-virtue-when-most-amiable) Leaves a note for Charlotte claiming 'unalterable friendship' and departs on 'unavoidable business,' signaling his growing coldness. ### [XXII: Sorrows of the Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxii-sorrows-of-the-heart) Described by Charlotte as her seducer who broke his promises of marriage and now scorns her. ### [XXIII: A Man May Smile, and Smile, and Be a Villain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiii-a-man-may-smile-and-smile-and-be-a-villain) Struggles with his conscience over Charlotte while pursuing Julia Franklin; deceived by Belcour, he confronts Charlotte and leaves her. ### [Mystery Developed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiv-mystery-developed) Discovers Charlotte with Belcour, rejects her, then confesses his love for Julia Franklin and his guilt over seducing Charlotte. ### [XXVI: What Might Be Expected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxvi-what-might-be-expected) Wracked with guilt over seducing Charlotte, he marries Julia Franklin and writes a farewell letter to Charlotte, providing for her but vowing never to see her again. ### [XXVII: “Like a Fair Lily”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxvii-like-a-fair-lily) Montraville is absent but central to the chapter; he has married Julia Franklin and sailed for Eustatia, having abandoned Charlotte without farewell or support. ### [XXVIII: A Trifling Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxviii-a-trifling-retrospect) Mentioned as having married and enjoying the pleasures of the city, abandoning Charlotte. ### [XXIX: We Go Forward Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxix-we-go-forward-again) Mentioned as having abandoned Charlotte; the farmer's wife refers to him as 'Captain Montable' and says he is gone. ### [XXX: “Friendship a Name”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxx-friendship-a-name) Mentioned as having married Julia Franklin, confirming his abandonment of Charlotte. ### [Retribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxxiv-retribution) Returns to New York, seeks Charlotte, learns of her suffering, attends her funeral, kills Belcour in a duel, falls ill, and is left with lifelong melancholy. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/endnotes) Given the same Christian name as Montrésor; his later life as Colonel Franklin is described. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters/montraville - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/charlotte_temple_se/characters