# Charles Marlowe — In the Midst of Life character guide

> Charles Marlowe in In the Midst of Life by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Marlowe

**First appearance:** 0066-the-eyes-of-the-panther

## Snapshot

A hunter in the deep woods who kisses his wife and child goodbye one midsummer morning and closes the door upon his happiness forever.

## Who they are

Marlowe is at ease in his forest life, taking down his rifle when there is already meat enough because the day invites it. He receives his wife's solemn warning about a dream with less gravity than it deserves—he laughs, teases her about Baby losing the power of speech, and leaves with a kiss for each. His cheerful disbelief in her premonition is the ordinary human error the story will punish, and his failure to return at nightfall is the silence around which the rest of the tale tightens.

## In the story

### [The Eyes of the Panther](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/the-eyes-of-the-panther)

Irene's father, who recounts the story of her childhood encounter with a panther.

### [One Does Not Always Marry When Insane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/i-one-does-not-always-marry-when-insane)

Mentioned as Irene's surname, but not directly present in the chapter.

### [A Room May Be Too Narrow for Three, Though One Is Outside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/ii-a-room-may-be-too-narrow-for-three-though-one-is-outside)

A woodman pioneer who leaves his family to hunt despite his wife's ominous dream; returns to find his child dead.

### [III: The Theory of the Defense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/iii-the-theory-of-the-defense)

Mentioned as Irene's father, broken by sorrow and living a solitary life.

### [IV: An Appeal to the Conscience of God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/iv-an-appeal-to-the-conscience-of-god)

Old Man Marlowe, the recluse father of the woman Brading courted; his daughter is the victim found in the woods.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/characters/charles_marlowe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/characters