# Uncle Benjamin — The Blue Castle character guide

> Uncle Benjamin in The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Benjamin, Uncle Ben, Ben

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

Valancy's fussy, flabbergasted uncle, whose visits and opinions the whole Stirling clan dreads and defers to.

## Who they are

Uncle Benjamin belongs to the clan's elder tier, one of the uncles whose disapproval Valancy has been trained since childhood to fear. His judgments carry weight: he sums up Olive as 'a stunning girl,' and his displeasure is a thing to be avoided at all costs. He matters because he embodies the family's stifling authority, the very web of fear that Valancy must break before she can begin to live.

## In the story

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

Uncle Benjamin teases Valancy about her age and unmarried status with riddles at his grocery store.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/vii)

Tells a riddle to Valancy at the post office; appears briefly.

### [The Silver Wedding Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/x)

Tells a riddle that falls flat when Valancy fails to respond; feels resentful.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xi)

Uncle Benjamin calls Valancy 'dippy' and recalls the time she stole raspberry jam, but is rebuffed by her sharp retorts.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xii)

Valancy imagines he will make a new will after the dinner; described as flabbergasted.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xiii)

Promised to take Valancy to a doctor but is thwarted by her refusal; participates in family conclave.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xv)

Calls for calm, denounces Valancy's actions as outrageous, and plans to consult Ambrose Marsh.

### [The Dance at Chidley Corners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xx)

Predicts worse rumors about Valancy after she attends the dance.

### [Summer in the Blue Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xxviii)

Uncle Benjamin confronts Barney in his store, calling him a scoundrel, but is outwitted by Barney's calm retorts.

### [Spring on Mistawis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Passes Valancy on the street without recognizing her at first; later feels indignant at her transformed appearance.

### [The Return of the Prodigal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xl)

Takes charge of the situation, urging the family to be kind and seeing Valancy's marriage as a stroke of luck.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xlii)

Uncle Benjamin greets Barney at the door, ushers him into the parlour, and later eavesdrops and jokes with Cousin Stickles.

### [Chapter XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xliv)

Mentioned as being a 'scream' along with Uncle James, implying their exaggerated approval of Valancy's new status.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/uncle_benjamin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters