# Mr. Bonteen — Phineas Redux character guide > Mr. Bonteen in Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Bonteen, Planty Pall, Planty, dreadful Mr. Bonteen **First appearance:** 0004-v-mr-daubeny-s-great-move ## Snapshot Mr. Bonteen is a climbing politician whose self-importance curdles into venom the moment Phineas Finn crosses his path. ## Who they are Bonteen is the kind of man who works a room, counts his intimacies, and measures every acquaintance by usefulness, so his near-promotion to Chancellor of the Exchequer only sharpens his sense of rank. He accuses Phineas of scuttling the ship and refuses to retract, nursing the quarrel with the injured dignity of a man who believes himself owed deference. His enmity turns political rivalry into something darker, and his name becomes the pivot on which the novel's central catastrophe turns. ## Relationships ### [Phineas Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/phineas_finn) _rivalry_ Bonteen is a bitter political enemy of Phineas, constantly undermining him and eventually becoming a central figure in the murder plot against Phineas. ### [Lady Laura Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/lady_laura_kennedy) _social_ Laura and Bonteen are political and social acquaintances, with Laura using him as a source of information and gossip about Phineas. ### [Phineas Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/phineas_finn) _rivalry_ Bonteen is a bitter political enemy of Phineas, constantly undermining him and eventually becoming a central figure in the murder plot against Phineas. ### [Phineas Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/phineas_finn) _rivalry_ Bonteen is a bitter political enemy of Phineas, constantly undermining him and eventually becoming a central figure in the murder plot against Phineas. ### [Lady Laura Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/lady_laura_kennedy) _social_ Laura and Bonteen are political and social acquaintances, with Laura using him as a source of information and gossip about Phineas. ### [Lady Laura Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/lady_laura_kennedy) _social_ Laura and Bonteen are political and social acquaintances, with Laura using him as a source of information and gossip about Phineas. ## In the story ### [Temptation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/i-temptation) A Liberal politician who expresses distrust of Phineas, noting his marriage and financial situation. ### [Mr. Daubeny’s Great Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/v-mr-daubeny-s-great-move) Skeptical of Daubeny's success, suggesting the move may be 'too heavy' for him. ### [The Address](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/viii-the-address) Whispers to Laurence Fitzgibbon about being 'less in the abstract, more in the concrete'; disgusted with the situation and blames lack of party zeal in Mr. Gresham. ### [The Debate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/ix-the-debate) Expresses dismay at the Liberal party's situation, commenting on the loss of the battle. ### [Phineas Again in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xx-phineas-again-in-london) Expresses doubt that Phineas can ever hold office again due to his Tankerville pledge. ### [The World Becomes Cold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxii-the-world-becomes-cold) Suspected by Phineas of blocking his advancement; described as hard and unfriendly. ### [The Universe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-universe) Newly appointed to the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Exchequer; openly accuses Phineas of scuttling the ship. ### [Political Venom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxv-political-venom) Accuses Phineas of scuttling the ship in a letter; rumored to be appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer; becomes a central figure in the parliamentary debate. ### [Seventy-Two](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxvi-seventy-two) His charge against Phineas is the subject of the speech and the subsequent correspondence shown to Lord Fawn. ### [The Conspiracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-conspiracy) Subject of Phineas's grievance; his ill-natured letter and political jealousy are discussed. ### [Cagliostro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xxxix-cagliostro) Agrees with Ratler that Daubeny's speech was powerful but the party is in atoms. ### [XL: The Prime Minister Is Hard Pressed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xl-the-prime-minister-is-hard-pressed) Denied the Chancellorship of the Exchequer and offered the Board of Trade without a Cabinet seat, leading to his humiliation. ### [The Second Thunderbolt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xliii-the-second-thunderbolt) Quarrels with Phineas; accepts inferior office but remains discontented, snarls at Plantagenet Palliser, and is supported by Bonteenites. ### [Some Passages in the Life of Mr. Emilius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xlv-some-passages-in-the-life-of-mr-emilius) Lady Eustace's friend and political ally; he is tired of the legal case and frustrated by political setbacks, including being snubbed by the Duke. ### [The Quarrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xlvi-the-quarrel) Makes an insulting remark about Phineas Finn at The Universe club, leading to a quarrel; is described as flushed with wine and arrogant. ### [Mr. Maule's Attempt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/xlviii-mr-maule-s-attempt) Reported murdered; his death is the central event of the chapter. ### [What the Lords and Commons Said About the Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/l-what-the-lords-and-commons-said-about-the-murder) Murdered; eulogized by Gresham in the House, though privately many members are relieved he is gone. ### [The Duchess Takes Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/liv-the-duchess-takes-counsel) The murder victim; his death is the central event of the chapter. ### [The Meager Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lvi-the-meager-family) The murder victim; his death is the subject of the investigation being conducted by Madame Goesler. ### [The Beginning of the Search for the Key and the Coat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lvii-the-beginning-of-the-search-for-the-key-and-the-coat) The murder victim; his death is the subject of the trial, and Madame Goesler is convinced Emilius is the real murderer. ### [The Two Dukes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lviii-the-two-dukes) The murdered man whose place at the Board of Trade is being filled by the Duke of Omnium. ### [Mrs. Bonteen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lix-mrs-bonteen) Murdered; his widow and Lady Eustace mourn him, and his death is central to the chapter. ### [Phineas Finn Is Reelected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/chapters/lxxi-phineas-finn-is-reelected) The murdered man; his death is referenced in Slide's articles as a reason Finn should not be celebrated. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters/mr_bonteen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phineas_redux_se/characters