# The Old Man — Lavengro character guide

> The Old Man in Lavengro by George Borrow.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old man

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

An elderly figure who appears in various contexts, often offering wisdom or guidance.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/iv)

An elderly viper-hunter and herbalist who catches a viper with his bare hand, later becomes acquainted with the narrator, and tells him about the king of the vipers.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xv)

The Quaker who criticizes the narrator's fishing and offers to lend Hebrew books.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxii)

An elderly yeoman who, with his wife, gives the narrator a strange book left by shipwrecked Danes, asking only a handshake and a kiss for his wife in return.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxiii)

The elderly individual, a German teacher and philosopher, smokes a clay pipe, defends German culture, and offers the youth three pieces of advice before parting.

### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xl)

The apple-woman, who recounts the theft of her book and shows it to the narrator.

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xliv)

The apple-woman, who gives the narrator her book, regrets learning to read, and wishes for a Bible.

### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xlvi)

The pickpocket who attempts to steal the merchant's pocketbook; previously tried to cheat Lavengro in a coach-yard.

### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lii)

The old apple-woman is the same character from earlier chapters; she speaks with Lavengro about her improved condition and the comforting voices she now hears.

### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxi)

An elderly man who is tricked out of his donkey by a thief using stones as payment; he weeps by the roadside until the narrator helps him.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxiv)

The old ostler shares stories of highwaymen, especially Jerry Abershaw and Richard Ferguson, and teaches the narrator about horse grooming.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxv)

The ostler who delivers a detailed lecture on horse care and gentlemanly travel.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxxi)

The elderly man whose gig frightened the horse; he brings Lavengro to his house and checks on the horse's condition.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxxii)

The elderly host who shows great hospitality and shares his lifelong study of Chinese porcelain inscriptions.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Narrates his story of loss, despair, and his journey to learn Chinese through the inscriptions on porcelain.

### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxxv)

Has finally deciphered the Chinese inscription; admits he cannot tell the exact time despite his erudition.

### [A Word for Lavengro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/i-a-word-for-lavengro)

A rich gentleman who touches objects to avert evil chance, exemplifying selfishness and God's providence.

### [The Old Radical](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xi-the-old-radical)

The old Radical himself, the primary antagonist of the chapter, who obtained a government appointment through jobbery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/the_old_man
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters