# Mr. Brooke — Middlemarch character guide > Mr. Brooke in Middlemarch by George Eliot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Brooke, Brooke, good Mr. Brooke **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot Dorothea's well-meaning uncle, a landowner of generous impulses and muddled opinions, forever reforming everything except his own estates. ## Who they are Mr. Brooke shuffles through Middlemarch as a self-styled progressive who reads the newspapers and quotes them badly, while his tenants' gates rot and his rents stay high. He means no harm and does considerable harm, and his nieces must navigate his vagueness as though it were weather. His blend of good nature and incompetence sets the comic and moral tone of the novel's public world. ## Relationships ### [Dorothea Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/dorothea_brooke) _family_ Dorothea is the niece and ward of Mr. Brooke, who is well-meaning but ineffectual in managing her affairs. ### [Sir James Chettam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/sir_james_chettam) _social_ Mr. Brooke and Sir James are neighbors and political allies, with Sir James often advising the bumbling Mr. Brooke. ### [Will Ladislaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/will_ladislaw) _family_ Mr. Brooke is Will Ladislaw's distant relative and employs him as a newspaper editor, though their relationship is strained by Will's independence. ### [Tertius Lydgate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/tertius_lydgate) _social_ Mr. Brooke is a patron and acquaintance of Lydgate, supporting his medical work but with little understanding of it. ### [Dorothea Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/dorothea_brooke) _family_ Dorothea is the niece and ward of Mr. Brooke, who is well-meaning but ineffectual in managing her affairs. ### [Sir James Chettam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/sir_james_chettam) _social_ Mr. Brooke and Sir James are neighbors and political allies, with Sir James often advising the bumbling Mr. Brooke. ### [Dorothea Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/dorothea_brooke) _family_ Dorothea is the niece and ward of Mr. Brooke, who is well-meaning but ineffectual in managing her affairs. ### [Will Ladislaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/will_ladislaw) _family_ Mr. Brooke is Will Ladislaw's distant relative and employs him as a newspaper editor, though their relationship is strained by Will's independence. ### [Tertius Lydgate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/tertius_lydgate) _social_ Mr. Brooke is a patron and acquaintance of Lydgate, supporting his medical work but with little understanding of it. ### [Sir James Chettam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/sir_james_chettam) _social_ Mr. Brooke and Sir James are neighbors and political allies, with Sir James often advising the bumbling Mr. Brooke. ### [Tertius Lydgate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/tertius_lydgate) _social_ Mr. Brooke is a patron and acquaintance of Lydgate, supporting his medical work but with little understanding of it. ### [Will Ladislaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/will_ladislaw) _family_ Mr. Brooke is Will Ladislaw's distant relative and employs him as a newspaper editor, though their relationship is strained by Will's independence. ## In the story ### [Middlemarch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/middlemarch) Dorothea's uncle, a well-meaning but somewhat scatterbrained landowner. ### [Book I: Miss Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/book-i-miss-brooke) The girls' uncle and guardian, a genial but somewhat scatterbrained man who provides a contrast to Dorothea's seriousness with his rambling and inconclusive opinions. ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/i) Dorothea and Celia's uncle, who is somewhat lax in managing his estate and is criticized for not providing a proper chaperone for his nieces. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/ii) Engages Casaubon in rambling conversation about politics and theology, and dismisses Dorothea's offer to sort his papers. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/iii) Hosts Mr. Casaubon and offers him documents on machine-breaking and rick-burning; he is later invited to stay at Lowick. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/iv) Returns from a journey, informs Dorothea of Casaubon's proposal offer, and expresses mild surprise at her choice. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/v) Surprised by the swift acceptance but gives his consent, musing on the family's intellectual tendencies and worrying about Sir James Chettam's reaction. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/vi) He awkwardly avoids Mrs. Cadwallader's questions about Dorothea's engagement and leaves the room. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/vii) Visits the library and expresses the conservative view that women should only study music and fine arts in a light way, not deep subjects like classics. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/ix) Accompanies Dorothea and Celia to Lowick, comments on the house and grounds, and engages with Ladislaw about his sketching. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/x) Hosts a dinner party at the Grange with a miscellaneous group of guests, including Middlemarch professionals; avoids inviting the Vincy daughter. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxviii) Visits Lowick Manor, exchanges welcomes, and comments on Casaubon's pale appearance. ### [Chapter 30](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxx) Agrees to write to Will to prevent his visit, but instead composes an expansive letter inviting Will to Tipton Grange, motivated by vague political and social schemes. ### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxiv) Unwittingly causes tension by inviting Will; praises his talents and hopes to employ him as a secretary. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxvii) Arranges for Will to visit Lowick and introduces him around Middlemarch as a relative of Casaubon's. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxviii) Joins the conversation after being attacked in the Trumpet; tries to dismiss the satire but shows nervousness; defends his political system. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxix) Hosts Dorothea and Will at the Grange, discusses estate management and poaching, and accompanies Dorothea partway to the Hall. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xlvi) Eager to support Reform but cautious, he encourages Ladislaw's writing and compares him to Burke. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xlvii) Mentioned as Will's chief in public exertions, contributing to Will's sense of compromised dignity. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xlix) Resists Sir James's demands, preferring to avoid immediate action and keep Ladislaw for political reasons. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/li) Withdraws from the election candidacy, citing health concerns, and later gives a floundering speech on the hustings. ### [Book VI: The Widow and the Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/book-vi-the-widow-and-the-wife) Mr. Brooke provides commentary on Dorothea's situation, reflecting the provincial attitudes of Middlemarch society. ### [LXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxi) Mr. Brooke shares the news with Dorothea, expressing unease about his own involvement with Bulstrode and hope that Lydgate is not guilty. ### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxii) Vaguely contributes to the discussion, warning against going too far and overspending. ### [LXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxvii) Mr. Brooke suggests a suitor for Dorothea who would manage her property, but she insists on managing it herself. ### [LXXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxxiv) Reluctantly supports Dorothea's decision, offering to give her away and consider cutting off the entail, while trying to appease Sir James. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/mr_brooke - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters