# Mr. Marlow — She Stoops to Conquer character guide

> Mr. Marlow in She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Marlow, Charles Marlow, Young Marlow

**First appearance:** 0004-act-i

## Snapshot

A polished gentleman abroad but a stammering schoolboy before modest women, Marlow rides to the country to meet a bride he has never seen.

## Who they are

Marlow arrives at Hardcastle's house convinced it is an inn, and his confidence curdles into comic insolence toward his unwitting host. With modest women he can barely speak; with bold ones he is all ease, a split that will decide everything once Kate begins her experiment. His mistake about the house sets the play's central confusion in motion.

## Relationships

### [Hastings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se/characters/hastings)

_friendship_

Hastings and Mr. Marlow are close friends and companions, with Hastings often trying to guide the shy Marlow in matters of love.

### [Miss Hardcastle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se/characters/miss_hardcastle)

_romantic_

Miss Hardcastle and Mr. Marlow are the central romantic pair, with her disguising herself as a barmaid to overcome his shyness and win his love.

### [Sir Charles Marlow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se/characters/sir_charles_marlow)

_family_

Mr. Marlow and Sir Charles Marlow are father and son, with Sir Charles arranging his son's marriage and being proud of him.

### [Tony Lumpkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se/characters/tony_lumpkin)

_friendship_

Mr. Marlow and Tony Lumpkin interact as part of the mistaken identity plot, with Tony leading Marlow to believe the Hardcastle home is an inn.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se/characters/mr_marlow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/she_stoops_to_conquer_se/characters