Table-Talk · Character

William Hazlitt

The essayist who turns a night at the theatre into a theory of self-effacement, insisting that actors—and authors—belong in the pit, not the boxes.

major

Also known as Unknown, mine, himself, your, Our, ourselves, we, our

First appearance: On the Pleasure of Painting

As a major figure in Table-Talk, William Hazlitt is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The author and narrator, reflecting on his personal experiences with painting and writing.

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Hazlitt is the presiding intelligence of Table-Talk, a man who watches the audience as closely as the stage and finds in their seating habits a whole moral philosophy. He confesses to a prejudice against prologue-speakers and managers while admitting he would not know what to make of John Kemble in the boxes—whether he was playing the great man or the great actor. His gift is to make a passing irritation about where an actor sits feel like a revelation about vanity, modesty, and the strange commerce between performer and spectator.

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Character Web

53 connections

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Relationship types

Friendship
Family
Social
Professional

Character groups

Protagonist
Writers and Thinkers
Literary and Artistic Circle
Sports and Theater

+48 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage marks the dramatic climax because it reveals the central psychological reversal: the lady who sco…

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Relationships

William Cobbett
friendship · positive
Cobbett and Hazlitt were political allies and mutual admirers, sharing radical views and… How this plays out →
Gertrude
family · positive
Sister Mill
social · ambivalent
Sir Joshua Reynolds
professional · ambivalent
John Milton
psychological · positive
John Cavanagh
friendship · positive
Old Sarratt
social · ambivalent
Miss Stephens
romantic · positive
Lord Byron
rivalry · negative
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
friendship · ambivalent
Jack Cavanagh
friendship · positive
Charles Lamb
friendship · positive

William Cobbett
Cobbett and Hazlitt were political allies and mutual admirers, sharing radical views and a combative style in their writings.
Gertrude
Gertrude is likely Hazlitt's mother or close female relative, with frequent interactions suggesting a domestic or caregiving bond.
Sister Mill
Sister Mill appears to be a household or institutional figure, possibly a servant or nun, with whom Hazlitt had regular daily contact.
Sir Joshua Reynolds
Hazlitt, as an art critic and painter, frequently referenced and debated Reynolds' artistic theories and legacy.
John Milton
Hazlitt had an intense intellectual obsession with Milton, often analyzing his poetry and character in essays.
John Cavanagh
John Cavanagh was a famous fives player whom Hazlitt admired and wrote about with great affection and respect.
Old Sarratt
Old Sarratt was a chess player and acquaintance of Hazlitt, likely met through London's gaming and coffeehouse circles.
Miss Stephens
Miss Stephens was a singer with whom Hazlitt was infatuated, leading to a one-sided romantic obsession documented in his writings.
Lord Byron
Hazlitt and Byron had a contentious relationship, with Hazlitt criticizing Byron's aristocratic hauteur and Byron dismissing Hazlitt's radicalism.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Hazlitt was initially a devoted disciple and friend of Coleridge, though later disillusionment and political differences strained their bond.
Jack Cavanagh
Jack Cavanagh, brother of John, was also a fives player and part of Hazlitt's sporting circle, sharing a camaraderie based on athletic admiration.
Charles Lamb
Charles Lamb was one of Hazlitt's closest friends, a fellow essayist and companion in London's literary and social circles.

Relationship notes

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In the story

William Hazlitt appears across 32 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

On the Pleasure of Painting
The author and narrator, reflecting on his personal experiences with painting and writing.
The Same Subject Continued
The author and narrator, reflecting on his own experiences as a student in the Louvre and defending the artist's perspective.
On the Past and Future
The author and narrator, reflecting on the psychology of time, habit, and the will.
On Genius and Common Sense
Author and narrator; presents the essay's central argument on genius and common sense.
The Same Subject Continued
Author and narrator; reflects on his own experience being asked to write an encyclopedia article and defends his essayistic style.
On People with One Idea
The author and narrator, who reflects on his own experiences with intellectual obsession and critiques the behavior of others.
On the Ignorance of the Learned
The author and speaker of the essay, presenting his critique of learned pedantry.
The Indian Jugglers
The author and narrator, reflecting on the nature of genius, skill, and greatness.
On Living to One’s-Self
Narrator and central figure; reflects on his own past life of contemplation and warns against the pursuit of public acclaim.
On Thought and Action
Author and narrator, reflecting on the nature of thought and action.
On Will-Making
Author and narrator; reflects on the motives and follies behind will-making.
On Certain Inconsistencies in Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses
The author presents his analysis of Reynolds's Discourses, pointing out logical inconsistencies and defending the role of original genius.
The Same Subject Continued
The author presents his own counter-arguments to Reynolds, defending the value of nature's variety, individual character, and expression in art.
On Paradox and Commonplace
The author and narrator, delivering a critique of both commonplace conservatism and extravagant paradox.
On Vulgarity and Affectation
Author and narrator; presents his theory of vulgarity and affectation, defends his own dramatic criticisms, and critiques Janus Weathercock.
On a Landscape of Nicolas Poussin
The author and narrator, reflecting on the British Gallery exhibitions and the works of Nicolas Poussin.
On Going a Journey
The author and narrator, who reflects on his love of solitary journeys and shares personal memories.
On Coffeehouse Politicians
Author and narrator, reflecting on the nature of coffeehouse politicians and society.
On the Aristocracy of Letters
The author and narrator, reflecting on his own experiences with the literary aristocracy and contrasting his own work with the pretensions of others.
On Criticism
The author and narrator, reflecting on the state of criticism.
On Great and Little Things
Author and narrator; reflects on personal experiences with love, writing, and the psychology of great and little things.
On Familiar Style
Author and narrator; discusses the principles of familiar style and criticizes other writers.
On Effeminacy of Character
The author, who presents his analysis of effeminacy of character and style, and contrasts it with manly firmness.
Why Distant Objects Please
The author and narrator, reflecting on personal memories and philosophical observations about distance and imagination.
On Corporate Bodies
Author and narrator; presents a scathing critique of corporate bodies and their corrupting influence.
Whether Actors Ought to Sit in the Boxes?
Author and narrator of the essay, arguing against actors sitting in boxes.
On the Disadvantages of Intellectual Superiority
The author and narrator, reflecting on his own experiences with intellectual superiority and social isolation.
On Patronage and Puffing
Author and narrator; reflects on his own experiences with critical verdicts and puffing.
On the Knowledge of Character
The author and narrator, reflecting on the complexities of character judgment and self-knowledge.
On the Picturesque and Ideal
Author and narrator; defines the picturesque and ideal, contrasts painters, and recounts personal experience at the Louvre.
On the Fear of Death
The author reflects on his own fear of death, his bookish existence, and his memory of seeing an infant's death.
Endnotes
Authorial voice throughout the endnotes, providing commentary and personal anecdotes.

Chapter companion notes

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