# William Rodney — Night and Day character guide > William Rodney in Night and Day by Virginia Woolf. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Rodney, William **First appearance:** 0001-night-and-day ## Snapshot A poet of careful verses and careful manners, William Rodney is engaged to Katharine Hilbery and forever lamenting that he cannot say how beautiful things are. ## Who they are Rodney moves through London drawing rooms as a man of taste, escorting Katharine along the Embankment and striking the parapet in frustration at his own inarticulacy. He is conventional, sincere, and a little vain, wanting a wife who will fit his idea of a poet's life. His engagement to Katharine is strained from the start, and his susceptibility to her young cousin Cassandra turns private dissatisfaction into the crisis that reshapes the plot. ## Relationships ### [Katharine Hilbery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/katharine_hilbery) _romantic_ Katharine is initially engaged to William but the relationship is strained by mismatched expectations and a lack of genuine passion. ### [Cassandra Otway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/cassandra_otway) _romantic_ Cassandra becomes romantically involved with William after his engagement to Katharine ends, leading to a genuine attachment. ### [Ralph Denham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/ralph_denham) _rivalry_ Ralph and William are romantic rivals for Katharine's affection, creating tension and mutual resentment. ### [Henry Otway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/henry_otway) _social_ Henry and William are acquaintances within the same social circle, interacting politely but without deep connection. ### [Katharine Hilbery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/katharine_hilbery) _romantic_ Katharine is initially engaged to William but the relationship is strained by mismatched expectations and a lack of genuine passion. ### [Katharine Hilbery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/katharine_hilbery) _romantic_ Katharine is initially engaged to William but the relationship is strained by mismatched expectations and a lack of genuine passion. ### [Cassandra Otway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/cassandra_otway) _romantic_ Cassandra becomes romantically involved with William after his engagement to Katharine ends, leading to a genuine attachment. ### [Ralph Denham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/ralph_denham) _rivalry_ Ralph and William are romantic rivals for Katharine's affection, creating tension and mutual resentment. ### [Cassandra Otway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/cassandra_otway) _romantic_ Cassandra becomes romantically involved with William after his engagement to Katharine ends, leading to a genuine attachment. ### [Ralph Denham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/ralph_denham) _rivalry_ Ralph and William are romantic rivals for Katharine's affection, creating tension and mutual resentment. ### [Henry Otway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/henry_otway) _social_ Henry and William are acquaintances within the same social circle, interacting politely but without deep connection. ### [Henry Otway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/henry_otway) _social_ Henry and William are acquaintances within the same social circle, interacting politely but without deep connection. ## In the story ### [Night and Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/night-and-day) Also at the party, engaged in conversation with Katharine. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/iv) Helps Katharine prepare to leave, and is seen as 'ridiculous' by Denham. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/viii) Writes a passionate letter to Katharine, declaring he cannot live without her, and includes a sonnet. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xi) Hosts Katharine for tea, reads his play to her, and expresses his trust in her judgment. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as Katharine's fiancé, providing a target for Ralph's anger, though Ralph later feels detached from the reality of the marriage. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xiv) Accompanies Katharine, talks nervously about art and Katharine's habits, displays old-fashioned compliments and a fretful attitude. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xvi) Discusses Katharine with Henry, expresses concerns about her lack of interest in his poetry, and interrupts Katharine and Henry's conversation, appearing ruffled. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as part of the group driving to Lincoln; Katharine reflects on her engagement to him. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xviii) Rodney confronts Katharine about her behavior, feeling humiliated and troubled by her self-forgetfulness and the state of their engagement. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxi) Katharine is engaged to him and plans to dine with him; she feels distant from him. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxii) Waits for Katharine, reflects on his friendship with Cassandra Otway, and casually announces the postponement of their marriage. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxiii) Agitated and desperate to speak to Katharine alone; feels jealousy when she leaves with Denham. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxiv) Receives a letter from Cassandra, feels relief and excitement about the future, and struggles with guilt. He contrasts Katharine's detachment with his own sensitivity during the tea-party. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxvi) Engaged in animated conversation with Cassandra; sends her his manuscript. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxvii) Irritated by Ralph's presence at the zoo; walks behind with Cassandra. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxix) Confesses his love for Cassandra to Katharine, is overheard by Cassandra, and proposes to her. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxx) Observes Denham watching the house, confronts Katharine about her love for Denham, and shows a new authority in his manner. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxxi) Visits for tea, relieved by Mrs. Hilbery's absence, but remains self-conscious and troubled by Katharine's oddness and the previous night's scene. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxxii) Confesses his love for Cassandra to Mr. Hilbery, is anxious about Katharine's behavior, and suggests the music-hall outing. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/chapters/xxxiv) Mentioned as possibly still talking to Cassandra at the house. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters/william_rodney - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/night_and_day_se/characters