# Mark Rutherford — The Autobiography of Mark Rutherford character guide > Mark Rutherford in The Autobiography of Mark Rutherford by Mark Rutherford. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Rutherford, Mr. Rutherford **First appearance:** 0002-the-autobiography-of-mark-rutherford ## Who they are A dissenting minister whose hunger for books beyond his reach turns faith into loneliness and the pulpit into a slow unraveling. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Snale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/mr_snale) _rivalry_ Mark Rutherford and Mr. Snale are in conflict, with Snale representing oppressive religious authority that Rutherford resists. ### [Theresa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/theresa) _romantic_ Mark Rutherford and Theresa share a deep romantic bond, marked by emotional intensity and personal sacrifice. ### [Miss Mardon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/miss_mardon) _friendship_ Mark Rutherford and Miss Mardon are friends, with Rutherford offering her sympathy and understanding in her difficult circumstances. ### [Mary Bell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/mary_bell) _friendship_ Mark Rutherford and Mary Bell are friends, with Mary Bell representing a gentle, sympathetic presence in his life. ### [Miss Arbour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/miss_arbour) _friendship_ Mark Rutherford and Miss Arbour share a respectful friendship, with Miss Arbour offering him moral support. ### [Ellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/ellen) _family_ Ellen is likely Mark Rutherford's sister or close female relative, sharing a caring familial bond. ### [Mr. Snale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/mr_snale) _rivalry_ Mark Rutherford and Mr. Snale are in conflict, with Snale representing oppressive religious authority that Rutherford resists. ### [Theresa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/theresa) _romantic_ Mark Rutherford and Theresa share a deep romantic bond, marked by emotional intensity and personal sacrifice. ### [Miss Arbour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/miss_arbour) _friendship_ Mark Rutherford and Miss Arbour share a respectful friendship, with Miss Arbour offering him moral support. ### [Mr. Snale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/mr_snale) _rivalry_ Mark Rutherford and Mr. Snale are in conflict, with Snale representing oppressive religious authority that Rutherford resists. ## In the story ### [Preface to the Second Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/preface-to-the-second-edition) Cited as an example of the danger and folly of cultivating thoughts and reading books beyond his capacity, leading to loneliness. ### [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/epigraph) The speaker of the poem, reflecting on his own death and life. ### [The Autobiography of Mark Rutherford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/the-autobiography-of-mark-rutherford) The protagonist and narrator, reflecting on his early life and education. ### [Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/i-childhood) Narrator and subject of the autobiography; reflects on his childhood, education, and religious upbringing. ### [II: Preparation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/ii-preparation) Narrator and protagonist; reflects on his college training, his spiritual awakening through Lyrical Ballads, and his growing alienation from orthodox theology. ### [III: Water Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/iii-water-lane) Narrator and protagonist; begins his ministry at Water Lane, suffers from hypochondria and alcohol dependence, and eventually resolves to abstain. ### [Edward Gibbon Mardon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/iv-edward-gibbon-mardon) Narrator reflecting on his preaching, his involvement in the water-supply meeting, and his encounter with Mardon. ### [V: Miss Arbour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/v-miss-arbour) Struggles with loss of faith, avoids Mardon, reflects on his broken engagement, and decides to visit Ellen. ### [VI: Ellen and Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/vi-ellen-and-mary) Visits Mardon for advice after resigning; struggles with faith and purpose; deeply moved by Mary's song; impulsively kisses Mary's hand. ### [Emancipation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/vii-emancipation) Takes up ministry at D——, proposes to Mary Bell, suffers rejection and monomania. ### [Progress in Emancipation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/viii-progress-in-emancipation) Narrates his year with the Unitarian congregation, his encounter with the butterfly-catcher, his resignation, and his move to London. ### [Oxford Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/chapters/ix-oxford-street) Overwhelmed by self-contempt, faints while proofreading, confesses his despair to Theresa, and later recovers after Miss Mardon's death. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters/mark_rutherford - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_mark_rutherford_se/characters