# Roebuck Ramsden — Man and Superman character guide

> Roebuck Ramsden in Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Roebuck, Ramsden, Mr. Ramsden, Tanner Ramsden, Miss Ramsden, Ramsden Rising, Ramsden Hmph, Ramsden Don Juan, Ramsden Polonius, Octavius Mr. Ramsden

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i

## Snapshot

An aging liberal who prides himself on progressive opinions and is quietly appalled to discover he has been made co-guardian with the radical he most disapproves of.

## Who they are

Ramsden is a respectable man of letters and old friend of the late Mr. Whitefield, chosen as Ann's guardian precisely because he represents everything solid and conventional. He grieves sincerely with Octavius and gently encourages the young man's hopes for Ann, believing her father's wish would be sacred to her. His horror at sharing guardianship with Tanner exposes the gap between his self-image as a freethinker and his actual terror of anyone freer than himself.

## Relationships

### [Jack Tanner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_superman_se/characters/jack_tanner)

_rivalry_

Tanner and Ramsden are ideological adversaries, with Tanner's radical views clashing against Ramsden's conservative respectability.

### [Ann Whitefield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_superman_se/characters/ann_whitefield)

_social_

Ann maintains a polite, respectful relationship with Ramsden as her father's old friend and co-guardian.

### [Violet Robinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_superman_se/characters/violet_robinson)

_family_

Ramsden is Violet's uncle and guardian, treating her with paternal concern and traditional moral expectations.

### [Jack Tanner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_superman_se/characters/jack_tanner)

_rivalry_

Tanner and Ramsden are ideological adversaries, with Tanner's radical views clashing against Ramsden's conservative respectability.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_superman_se/characters/roebuck_ramsden
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- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_superman_se/characters