# John Melmoth — Melmoth the Wanderer character guide > John Melmoth in Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Robert Maturin. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Melmoth, old Melmoth, young Melmoth, Melmoth the Wanderer, the Wanderer **First appearance:** 0001-melmoth-the-wanderer ## Who they are A poor Dublin student summoned to a miserly uncle's deathbed, only to inherit a family curse and a portrait that stares back with his own name. ## Relationships ### [Doña Isidora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/dona_isidora) _romantic_ Doña Isidora is seduced and psychologically tormented by John Melmoth, who offers her a cursed love and a pact with dark forces. ### [Elinor Mortimer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/elinor_mortimer) _romantic_ Elinor Mortimer is deeply in love with John Melmoth, but their relationship is marked by his coldness and her tragic devotion. ### [Margaret Mortimer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/margaret_mortimer) _psychological_ John Melmoth manipulates Margaret Mortimer, preying on her despair and using her love for her daughter to further his sinister influence. ### [Stanton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/stanton) _rivalry_ Stanton is an obsessive enemy of John Melmoth, pursuing him across the world to expose his demonic nature and curse. ### [Juan di Monçada](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/juan_di_moncada) _psychological_ Juan di Monçada is a reluctant confidant and victim of John Melmoth, forced to listen to his horrific tales and bound by fear. ### [Sir Roger Mortimer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/sir_roger_mortimer) _rivalry_ John Melmoth is a sinister adversary to Sir Roger Mortimer, threatening his family's peace and sanity through supernatural manipulation. ### [Immalee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/immalee) _romantic_ Immalee, an innocent island girl, is seduced and corrupted by John Melmoth, who offers her love in exchange for her soul. ### [Sir Edmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/sir_edmund) _rivalry_ John Melmoth views Sir Edmund as a rival for Doña Isidora's affection and works to undermine his influence through supernatural means. ### [Doña Isidora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/dona_isidora) _romantic_ Doña Isidora is seduced and psychologically tormented by John Melmoth, who offers her a cursed love and a pact with dark forces. ### [Doña Isidora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/dona_isidora) _romantic_ Doña Isidora is seduced and psychologically tormented by John Melmoth, who offers her a cursed love and a pact with dark forces. ### [Elinor Mortimer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/elinor_mortimer) _romantic_ Elinor Mortimer is deeply in love with John Melmoth, but their relationship is marked by his coldness and her tragic devotion. ### [Sir Edmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/sir_edmund) _rivalry_ John Melmoth views Sir Edmund as a rival for Doña Isidora's affection and works to undermine his influence through supernatural means. ## In the story ### [Melmoth the Wanderer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/melmoth-the-wanderer) The young protagonist summoned to his uncle's deathbed. ### [Melmoth the Wanderer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/melmoth-the-wanderer) The dying uncle whose death triggers the discovery of the portrait and manuscript. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/i) A student at Trinity College, Dublin, summoned to his dying uncle's bedside; he is the orphan son of a younger brother, dependent on his uncle's caprice. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/i) The dying miser uncle, rich but paranoid, who dies in a delirium of avarice, accusing everyone of robbing him. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/ii) The young heir, curious and determined, decides to read the forbidden manuscript despite the unsettling circumstances. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/ii) The deceased uncle, whose will contains a mysterious codicil about a portrait and manuscript. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/iii) Reads Stanton's manuscript and destroys the portrait of his ancestor, then experiences a haunting vision. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/iii) His portrait is torn and burned by young Melmoth; his figure appears in a vision after the destruction. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/iv) Leads the rescue effort during the storm, climbs the rocks, and encounters the mysterious figure before falling into the sea. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned indirectly through the governante's use of his old law-papers and the search for his coats and boots. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/v) Recovers from shipwreck and learns of the mysterious stranger in his house. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/vi) The listener to the Spaniard's narrative, described as having 'uncontinental feelings'. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xi) Listens to Monçada's narrative and shudders at the mention of the 'incommunicable condition'. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xv) The mysterious stranger who visits Immalee, attempting to corrupt her innocence with sophistry and knowledge of the world's suffering. He shows a momentary flicker of compassion before hardening his heart. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xvi) The stranger (Melmoth) returns to Immalee, showing her visions of world religions and their cruelties, while struggling with reluctant compunction. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xvii) The stranger (Melmoth the Wanderer) who delivers a bitter critique of society and struggles between human feeling and his own despair. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xviii) Referred to as 'the stranger' and 'the wanderer'; he struggles between compassion and malignity, warning Immalee of his cursed nature and threatening her with destruction. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xix) Appears in Madrid, recognized by his ominous eyes and reputation; causes Immalee to faint upon their encounter. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxi) Observes Isidora's devotion with a mixture of compassion and wonder, but suppresses his human feelings to demand a proof of her love. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxii) Proposes marriage to Isidora as her only escape; shows rare signs of emotion and hesitation. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxiv) Leads Isidora through the dark landscape, recounts the monastery's sinister history, and shows brief tenderness when she faints, but remains relentless in his purpose. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxiv) Mocks Isidora's religious pleas but shows increased tenderness after learning of her pregnancy; promises baptism with cynical reservations. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxv) Melmoth the Wanderer, Isidora's secret husband, warns her of danger, kills her brother Fernan in a duel, and escapes, vowing never to tempt woman again. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxvi) Referenced as the Wanderer and Isidora's husband, the subject of the Inquisition's pursuit. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxvii) Appears to Isidora in her cell, offering escape on a terrible condition. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxviii) Young Melmoth, present with Monçada, witnesses the Wanderer's appearance and listens to his final declarations. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxix) Witnesses the Wanderer's final hours and discovers his disappearance. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/chapters/xxxix) The Wanderer, now aged and decrepit, faces his final summons and vanishes. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters/john_melmoth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/melmoth_the_wanderer_se/characters