Miss Mole · Character

Mr. Blenkinsop

A comfortable, kindly elderly gentleman whose shaded lamps and untroubled past make him both a refuge and a reproach to Miss Mole's wandering, secretive life.

supporting

Also known as Samuel, Samuel Blenkinsop, old Blenkinsop, Blenkinsop

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Miss Mole, Mr. Blenkinsop is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as the lecturer on Charles Lamb at the Literary Society Meeting; described by Lilla as a rather dull young man named Samuel, irregular in chapel attendance.

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Mr. Blenkinsop is the neighbor whose warm, open-doored room Hannah peeps into with acid humor, envying a comfort she pretends to scorn. He is a man with, apparently, no past he need fear, and his placid evenings throw Hannah's own threatened history into relief. His kindness and ordinariness give the novel a quiet counterweight to the Corders' rigidity and to the shadow Mr. Pilgrim casts over Hannah's precarious peace.

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See Mr. Blenkinsop in i

Character Web

18 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Corder Family Circle
Community and Minor Figures
Protagonist

+13 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

This excerpt marks the story's dramatic climax because Ruth’s secret excursion with Wilfrid represents the pea…

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In the story

Mr. Blenkinsop appears across 20 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II
Mentioned as the lecturer on Charles Lamb at the Literary Society Meeting; described by Lilla as a rather dull young man named Samuel, irregular in chapel attendance.
III
A respectable lodger at Mrs. Gibson's who is upset about the recent events involving the basement tenant.
IV
Mentioned as a resident at Mrs. Gibson's house and as not amusing at the Literary meeting.
V
Hannah encounters him in the hall; he remains grave and monosyllabic, resisting her attempts at conversation.
VI
Seen at No. 16 with a parrot; later encountered in his sitting room absorbed in chess; dismissive of Hannah's teasing but shows a flicker of interest in her news.
The Underground Struggles
Mr. Blenkinsop is mentioned as having embarrassed Robert Corder, and Hannah jokingly suggests he robbed the bank, which is met with disapproval.
XI
Corder is upset by Blenkinsop's desertion and uncommunicative courtesy.
XIV
Visits the Corder household seeking Mr. Corder, but engages in a tense exchange with Hannah on the doorstep before leaving.
XVII
Mr. Blenkinsop accompanies Hannah on her walk, showing protective courtesy and discussing Mrs. Ridding's distress.
XIX
Mr. Blenkinsop visits Hannah and reveals his fundamental disagreement with Robert Corder's doctrines. He is also the subject of Hannah's imaginative stories, and she suspects him of a complicated love affair.
Chapter XXI
Invites Hannah to tea; his letter is recognized by Robert Corder.
XXIII
Hannah had tea with him; he laughed and smiled at her conversation; a potential fellow-sinner.
XXVIII
Confides in Hannah about his plans for a little house and the Ridding situation, and stays by her side during the party.
XXIX
Seeks Hannah's company during the dance and expresses dismay at Mr. Pilgrim's recitation.
XXXII
Sends a letter to Hannah proposing a day in the country to inspect a house for Mrs. Ridding.
XXXIV
Accompanies Hannah on her outing; his protective presence and subsequent loss weigh on Hannah.
XXXV
Mr. Blenkinsop accompanies Hannah to the countryside, inadvertently leading her to her own former home; his presence becomes a burden as she tries to recover from shock.
XXXVI
Mr. Blenkinsop's information about Hannah's house triggers her painful reflections, and Ethel mentions meeting him.
XXXVII
Hannah thinks about warning him against taking the cottage; she recalls his confidence in her.
XL
Mr. Blenkinsop reveals he has investigated Hannah's past and turned out the man who wronged her. He declares his love for Hannah and proposes they leave together, showing his protective and devoted nature.

Chapter companion notes

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