# Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine — Orlando character guide

> Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine in Orlando by Virginia Woolf.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Bonthrop, Shelmerdine

**First appearance:** 0008-v

## Snapshot

A sea captain who rides up out of a storm, marries Orlando almost on sight, and is gone again before the ink on the register is dry.

## Who they are

Shelmerdine is a man of action dropped into a book about a person of thought, and the mismatch is the joke and the tenderness of the whole Victorian section. He and Orlando discover, to their mutual astonishment, that each has a streak of the other's sex in them, which is why they can love without pretending. He matters because he proves Orlando can be known, not just admired or pursued.

## Relationships

### [Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/characters/orlando)

_romantic_

Shelmerdine is Orlando's androgynous, adventurous husband, sharing a deep, mystical, and equal romantic bond.

### [Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/characters/orlando)

_romantic_

Shelmerdine is Orlando's androgynous, adventurous husband, sharing a deep, mystical, and equal romantic bond.

### [Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/characters/orlando)

_romantic_

Shelmerdine is Orlando's androgynous, adventurous husband, sharing a deep, mystical, and equal romantic bond.

## In the story

### [Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/chapters/orlando)

The sea captain whom Orlando marries in the Victorian era.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/chapters/v)

Orlando's husband, who supports her and shares a deep connection with her.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/chapters/vi)

Invoked as one of Orlando's many selves, associated with crocuses in autumn woods.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

Portrayed in an illustration as Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/characters/marmaduke_bonthrop_shelmerdine
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_se/characters