# Sir James Chettam — Middlemarch character guide > Sir James Chettam in Middlemarch by George Eliot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Sir James Chettam, Chettam, Sir James, James **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot A good-natured baronet with excellent intentions and no great ideas, he courts Dorothea, loses her to Casaubon, and settles for her prettier sister. ## Who they are Sir James Chettam is a wealthy, well-meaning landowner who admires Dorothea Brooke and is baffled by her preference for the scholarly Casaubon. Made of excellent human dough, he is generous, conventional, and slightly ridiculous in his rivalry, measuring Casaubon chiefly by the poor opinion of his legs. His eventual marriage to Celia and his patronage of Caleb Garth make him a quiet thread of decency running through the novel's social fabric. ## Relationships ### [Dorothea Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/dorothea_brooke) _social_ Sir James is a persistent suitor of Dorothea early on, but later becomes a friendly neighbor and brother-in-law. ### [Mr. Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/mr_brooke) _social_ Mr. Brooke and Sir James are neighbors and political allies, with Sir James often advising the bumbling Mr. Brooke. ### [Celia Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/celia_brooke) _romantic_ Celia marries Sir James Chettam after Dorothea rejects him, and they have a contented, conventional marriage. ### [Dorothea Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/dorothea_brooke) _social_ Sir James is a persistent suitor of Dorothea early on, but later becomes a friendly neighbor and brother-in-law. ### [Dorothea Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/dorothea_brooke) _social_ Sir James is a persistent suitor of Dorothea early on, but later becomes a friendly neighbor and brother-in-law. ### [Mr. Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/mr_brooke) _social_ Mr. Brooke and Sir James are neighbors and political allies, with Sir James often advising the bumbling Mr. Brooke. ### [Celia Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/celia_brooke) _romantic_ Celia marries Sir James Chettam after Dorothea rejects him, and they have a contented, conventional marriage. ### [Mr. Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/mr_brooke) _social_ Mr. Brooke and Sir James are neighbors and political allies, with Sir James often advising the bumbling Mr. Brooke. ### [Celia Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/celia_brooke) _romantic_ Celia marries Sir James Chettam after Dorothea rejects him, and they have a contented, conventional marriage. ## In the story ### [Book I: Miss Brooke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/book-i-miss-brooke) Introduced as a neighboring baronet and a potential suitor for Dorothea, though she dismisses him as too conventional and lacking in intellectual depth. ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/i) A baronet who is interested in Dorothea, but she mistakenly believes he is a suitor for Celia. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/ii) Persists in his admiration for Dorothea, offering a horse and attempting to win her favor, but is oblivious to her preference for Casaubon. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/iii) Visits frequently and eagerly supports Dorothea's cottage-building plans. He presents her with a Maltese puppy, which she rejects, and he persists in complimenting her, though she finds him obtrusive. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/iv) Discussed as a potential suitor; Dorothea firmly rejects the idea of marrying him. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/vi) Initially attached to Dorothea, he is hurt by her engagement but begins to redirect his interest toward Celia. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/viii) Visits Mr. Cadwallader to express his concern over Dorothea's engagement, but ultimately accepts the situation and continues his practical kindness toward her. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxvii) His servant summons Lydgate to attend a patient at Lowick Manor, a sign of Lydgate's growing practice. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxviii) Mentioned as being engaged to Celia Brooke and continuing work on the cottages. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxix) Visits Lowick with Celia; reflects on his past love for Dorothea and his chivalrous, brotherly feelings toward her. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxvii) Considered by Casaubon as a potential ally in remonstrating against Will's presence. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxviii) Expresses concern about Will Ladislaw's influence on Mr. Brooke and the mismanagement of the Tipton estate; advocates for Caleb Garth's return. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xxxix) Devises the plan to bring Dorothea to the Grange to influence Mr. Brooke about estate improvements, though he does not appear directly in the chapter. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/xlix) Expresses indignation and disgust over Casaubon's codicil, urging Mr. Brooke to send Ladislaw away to protect Dorothea's dignity. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/l) Concerned about Dorothea's well-being and the implications of the will; drives her to Lowick and advises against visiting the Grange due to political company. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/li) Indignantly remonstrates with Mr. Brooke, leading to Ladislaw being kept away from the Grange. ### [Chapter LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/liv) Sir James interrupts the meeting between Dorothea and Will, behaving rudely toward Ladislaw, which rouses Dorothea's dignity. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lv) Feels repulsion at the idea of Dorothea's second marriage and is satisfied when she removes her widow's cap. Shows annoyance at Mrs. Cadwallader's remarks about remarriage. ### [LXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxii) Anxiously watches Ladislaw's movements and is relieved to hear news that may nullify danger regarding Dorothea. ### [LXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxvii) Accompanying Dorothea to Yorkshire, involved in land matters. ### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxii) Anxiously opposes Dorothea's plan, urging her to wait and not meddle with the Bulstrode affair. ### [LXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxvi) Mentioned by Dorothea as a person who would believe her and whom she could approach to clear Lydgate. ### [LXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxvii) Sir James is complacent about the distance between Will and Dorothea, and points out Will's disreputable genealogy to Mr. Brooke. ### [LXXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/lxxxiv) Expresses strong disapproval of Dorothea's marriage to Ladislaw, calling it a wrong action, and is too pained to see her again. ### [Finale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/chapters/finale) Reluctantly consents to reconciliation with Dorothea and Will, never ceases to regard Dorothea's second marriage as a mistake, but maintains a reciprocal tolerance with Will. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters/sir_james_chettam - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/middlemarch_se/characters