# The Young Man — Poetry character guide > The Young Man in Poetry by Oscar Wilde. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0001-chapter ## Snapshot The impassioned youth whose first sight of the beloved strikes with more awful wonder than a priest's first taste of the sacrament. ## Who they are He is the addressee and mirror of the poet's ardour, the 'Dear Heart' before whom the speaker kneels all night in idolatry. His beauty makes the lover's lips fail and his sweetest singing go out of tune, so that passion works its own wrong. He embodies the early, rapturous phase of love in these poems, the moment before silence and parting claim their share. ## Relationships ### [The Hermit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_hermit) _psychological_ The Hermit acts as a mysterious mentor and obsessive guide, drawing the Young Man into a secluded world of introspection and spiritual trials. ### [The Warders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_warders) _rivalry_ The Warders are hostile gatekeepers or enforcers who repeatedly confront and restrain the Young Man. ### [Narcissus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/narcissus) _psychological_ Narcissus mirrors the Young Man's own vanity and self-obsession, acting as a symbolic double or warning. ### [Oreads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/oreads) _social_ The Oreads are peripheral nature spirits who occasionally interact with the Young Man, often as observers or fleeting companions. ### [Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/christ) _psychological_ Christ appears as a spiritual figure who challenges and comforts the Young Man, representing divine love and sacrifice. ### [Reedy Styx Old Charon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/reedy_styx_old_charon) _professional_ Charon is the ferryman of the dead who transports the Young Man across the Styx, a necessary but grim guide. ### [Joseph of Arimathea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/joseph_of_arimathea) _friendship_ Joseph of Arimathea offers the Young Man burial and care, acting as a compassionate ally in times of death and rebirth. ### [Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/love) _romantic_ Love personified pursues the Young Man with intense passion, embodying both desire and spiritual longing. ### [The Teacher of Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_teacher_of_wisdom) _professional_ The Teacher of Wisdom instructs the Young Man in esoteric knowledge, serving as a formal mentor. ### [Oreads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/oreads) _social_ The Oreads are peripheral nature spirits who occasionally interact with the Young Man, often as observers or fleeting companions. ### [The Hermit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_hermit) _psychological_ The Hermit acts as a mysterious mentor and obsessive guide, drawing the Young Man into a secluded world of introspection and spiritual trials. ### [Reedy Styx Old Charon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/reedy_styx_old_charon) _professional_ Charon is the ferryman of the dead who transports the Young Man across the Styx, a necessary but grim guide. ## In the story ### [Lotus Leaves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/lotus-leaves) The speaker of the poem, who reflects on nature, death, and his own divine nature. ### [Wasted Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/wasted-days) The fair slim boy, lost in dreams and sorrow, unaware of the passing of time. ### [Sen Artysty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/sen-artysty) The speaker and dreamer, tormented by ambition and longing for glory. ### [Wind Flowers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/wind-flowers) Implied as the speaker in several poems, experiencing love and loss. ### [Impression du Matin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/impression-du-matin) Implied observer of the morning scene ### [The Dole of the King’s Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-dole-of-the-king-s-daughter) The one man who loves the king's daughter truly, he digs a grave for four by the darksome yew. ### [Fabien Dei Franchi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/fabien-dei-franchi) Implied as Romeo, who should 'lure his love' at Irving's bidding. ### [The Fourth Movement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-fourth-movement) Implied speaker in 'Apologia' and 'Quia Multum Amavi', reflecting on youth, love, and loss. ### [Quia Multum Amavi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/quia-multum-amavi) Implied as the speaker, the young impassioned priest-like figure who experiences awe and later sorrow. ### [Fantaisies Décoratives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/fantaisies-d-coratives) The lover with almond eyes who watches the ivory girl from the thicket. ### [I: Le Panneau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/i-le-panneau) The lover with almond eyes who watches the girl from the thicket. ### [With a Copy of A House of Pomegranates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/with-a-copy-of-a-house-of-pomegranates) Implied recipient of the book, a poet who sang of the Golden Girl. ### [Poems in Prose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/poems-in-prose) Appears in 'The Doer of Good' as a healed leper now living in debauchery, and later as a weeping man raised from the dead. ### [The Doer of Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-doer-of-good) A healed leper now living a life of excess, crowned with roses and drinking wine. ### [The House of Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-house-of-judgment) The unnamed man who stands before God and confesses his sins. ### [The Teacher of Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/chapters/the-teacher-of-wisdom) A robber with a beautiful but evil face who collects purple and pearls from caravans and seeks the hermit's knowledge of God. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters/the_young_man - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_18_se/characters