# Charles Darton — Short Fiction character guide

> Charles Darton in Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Charles, Farmer Charles Darton, Darton, Farmer Darton, neighbour Darton, Charley

**First appearance:** 0002-destiny-and-a-blue-cloak

## Snapshot

A farmer whose romantic life is complicated by misunderstanding, a man of the land caught between the practical and the passionate.

## Who they are

Farmer Charles Darton moves through Hardy's rural world with the ease of a man rooted in his uncle's garden and greenhouse, confident in small proprietorship. Yet his romantic life is tangled by misreading and crossed signals, and the gap between his straightforward manner and the complexity of his feelings creates real friction. He matters because his story shows how even a decent, uncomplicated man can be undone by the failure to say the right thing at the right time.

## In the story

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xvii)

Not present in this chapter.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/i)

Farmer Charles Darton rides through Long-Ash Lane to marry Sally Hall. He is contemplative, unambitious, and inherited his wealth from his father.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ii)

Sally's fiancé, a gentleman-farmer, who is expected to arrive for the wedding but has not yet appeared.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iii)

Darton arrives at the Hall farm, encounters Helena in the stable, and later offers to take care of her children after Philip's death. He is conflicted by his past feelings for Helena.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iv)

Darton remains passive after Sally's petulant words, then reconnects with Helena, marries her, and after her death considers marrying Sally.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/v)

Returns to propose to Sally again after five years, is rejected, and eventually accepts her decision.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/charles_darton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters