# The Warders — Poetry character guide

> The Warders in Poetry by Oscar Wilde.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0135-the-ballad-of-reading-gaol

## Who they are

Guardians or keepers mentioned in the narrative.

## Relationships

### [The Young Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_young_man)

_rivalry_

The Warders are hostile gatekeepers or enforcers who repeatedly confront and restrain the Young Man.

### [Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/christ)

_rivalry_

Christ opposes the Warders, who represent earthly authority and punishment, in a spiritual conflict.

## In the story

### [The Ballad of Reading Gaol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-ballad-of-reading-gaol)

Prison guards who oversee the inmates and carry out the execution.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/iii)

The warders are present throughout, watching the prisoners and maintaining order, but are also depicted as fearful and unable to comfort the condemned.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/iv)

The warders unlock the cells, strut up and down the yard, and wear Sunday suits with quicklime on their boots from the execution.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/v)

Implied as the keepers of the prison, with the Warder being Despair, and the eye that watches through the door being pitiless and hard.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_warders
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters