# Lydia Carew — Short Plays character guide

> Lydia Carew in Short Plays by George Bernard Shaw.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lydia, Lydia Panting, Lucian, Lydia Lucian, Lydia Hurrah, Lydia Proceed, Lucian Death, Lydia The king, Lydia Carew, Lydia Lord Worthington, Lydia Oh

**First appearance:** 0000-the-admirable-bashville

## Snapshot

A rich, learned, and profoundly lonely heiress who longs for a mate untouched by books and culture, then meets a prizefighter in her own park.

## Who they are

Lydia owns Wiltstoken and everything in it, yet her wealth and wisdom have only taught her how isolated she is, surrounded by suitors who bore her and books that fail to satisfy. When Cashel Byron crashes into her solitude, his raw vitality offers exactly the escape she has been craving. Her struggle to reconcile her intellectual pride with her attraction to a man of the ring drives the play's central comedy of class and desire.

## Relationships

### [Cashel Byron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/cashel_byron)

_romantic_

Cashel Byron, a prizefighter, and Lydia Carew, an intellectual heiress, are lovers from different social worlds.

### [Bashville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/bashville)

_psychological_

Bashville, a servant, is obsessively in love with Lydia Carew, creating a one-sided devotion.

### [Bashville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/bashville)

_psychological_

Bashville, a servant, is obsessively in love with Lydia Carew, creating a one-sided devotion.

### [Cashel Byron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/cashel_byron)

_romantic_

Cashel Byron, a prizefighter, and Lydia Carew, an intellectual heiress, are lovers from different social worlds.

## In the story

### [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-ii)

Struggles with Cashel's profession; initially rejects him but later cheers his victory; forbids a duel between Lucian and Cashel.

### [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-ii)

Horrified by Cashel's profession; reads the fight report; challenges Cashel but is restrained by Lydia.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Discovers Cashel's secrets; offers to marry him if he quits boxing; departs with him to Islington.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Calls Cashel 'drunk with slaughter' and challenges him to a duel, but is forbidden by Lydia.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

A spectator in the balcony who watches the fight with anxiety and later swoons in Cashel's arms after he is bitten.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

The master of ceremonies who introduces the fighters and engages Cetewayo with his umbrella during the chaos.

### [Act III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-iii)

Writing her father's life at Wiltstoken; hides Cashel from the police; agrees to marry him by royal decree.

### [Act III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/chapters/act-iii)

Brings the Order in Council granting amnesty and the marriage decree.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/lydia_carew
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters