# Bardo de' Bardi — Romola character guide > Bardo de' Bardi in Romola by George Eliot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Bardo Bardi, de ' Bardi, the Bardi, Messer Bardo **First appearance:** 0007-v-the-blind-scholar-and-his-daughter ## Snapshot A blind Florentine scholar who hoards antiquities and dictation like a miser, demanding his daughter Romola's hands and eyes as the price of his unfinished life's work. ## Who they are Bardo de' Bardi is a proud, blind humanist whose life's ambition — a great commentary on the New Platonists — keeps him chained to his daughter's patience and his son-in-law's eroding goodwill. He measures love in hours of transcription and grows petulant when Tito's attentions drift toward politics and pleasure. His slow, exacting decline is the quiet engine of Romola's early sacrifice, teaching her both devotion and the first taste of resentment. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/book-i) A blind scholar and collector of antiquities, representing the old world of classical learning and its fading influence. ### [The Barber's Shop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/iii-the-barber-s-shop) A blind scholar and collector, mentioned as a potential patron for Tito. He is described as having a beautiful daughter, Romola, and as being too poor to buy Tito's gems. ### [V: The Blind Scholar and His Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/v-the-blind-scholar-and-his-daughter) The blind scholar, bitter about his lost sight and unfulfilled work. He laments the lack of a fitting coadjutor and expresses a low opinion of the feminine mind, though he shows tenderness towards Romola. ### [VI: Dawning Hopes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/vi-dawning-hopes) Blind scholar who welcomes Tito and envisions a collaborative scholarly work. ### [A Learned Squabble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/vii-a-learned-squabble) Mentioned as the one who recommended Tito to Scala, described as a worthy scholar who overvalues himself. ### [XI: Tito's Dilemma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xi-tito-s-dilemma) Bardo is in his study with Romola, receiving Tito's visit. ### [XII: The Prize Is Nearly Grasped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xii-the-prize-is-nearly-grasped) Shows new vigor and cheerfulness, eager to expand his scholarly work with Tito. He gives a tentative blessing to the marriage, but insists on consulting Bernardo del Nero first. ### [XIX: The Old Man’s Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xix-the-old-man-s-hope) Blind and aging, hopeful about securing his library's future; largely unaware of the extent of his debts. ### [XX: The Day of the Betrothal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xx-the-day-of-the-betrothal) Walks in the procession, led by Tito and Romola, and insists on the ceremony at Santa Croce. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/book-ii) Bardo is a blind scholar who is impressed by Tito's learning and welcomes him into his home. He is a symbol of the old Florentine intellectual world, which is being challenged by new political and religious forces. ### [XXVII: The Young Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxvii-the-young-wife) Recently deceased; Romola feels guilt over her hope for a new life with Tito and is committed to fulfilling his wish for the library catalogue. ### [XXVIII: The Painted Record](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxviii-the-painted-record) His portrait as Oedipus is the reason for Romola's visit, symbolizing her devotion and the fading memory of her father. ### [XXXI: Fruit Is Seed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxxi-fruit-is-seed) Though deceased, Bardo's presence is felt through his portrait and the ongoing concern for his library. Bernardo reflects on Bardo's fiery youth and his lifelong devotion to his books. ### [XXXII: A Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxxii-a-revelation) Romola's father is mentioned as the one whose wishes she is trying to honor, and whose trust Tito has betrayed. ### [XXXVI: Ariadne Discrowns Herself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/xxxvi-ariadne-discrowns-herself) Though deceased, Bardo's memory looms large as Romola mourns the loss of his library and his lifelong hopes, feeling his presence in the desolation. ### [LXI: Drifting Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/lxi-drifting-away) Mentioned in memory as Romola recalls reading Boccaccio to him in her girlhood. This memory contrasts her past life of learning and duty with her present state of hopeless drifting. ### [LXIX: Homeward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/chapters/lxix-homeward) Romola's indignant grief for her godfather no longer has complete possession of her, as she begins to question the justness of her own conclusions and deeds. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters/bardo_de_bardi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romola_se/characters