The Hound of the Baskervilles · Character

Mr. Stapleton

The mild-mannered naturalist with a butterfly net, a beautiful sister, and a hold over her that no one quite names.

major

Also known as Stapleton, the Stapletons

First appearance: VII: The Stapletons of Merripit House

As a major figure in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Mr. Stapleton is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as a mutual friend concerned about Sir Charles's health.

In the storyThe Curse of the BaskervillesOpen this moment free

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Stapleton lives at Merripit House with his sister Beryl, collecting specimens and playing the friendly neighbor to Sir Henry. He is guarded, dry, and quietly forceful — Watson notices a hidden fire beneath the calm and a marked influence over his sister, who glances at him for approval as she speaks. His knowledge of the moor and his convenient proximity to every clue make him both the most useful and the most unsettling figure in the early investigation.

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See Mr. Stapleton in VII: The Stapletons of Merripit House

Character Web

16 connections

A slice of how Mr. Stapleton sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Family
Other

Character groups

Main Cast and Suspects
Protagonist

+11 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 excerpt marks the dramatic climax because Dr. Watson reaches his psychological breaking point, openly adm…

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Relationships

Sir Henry Baskerville
rivalry · negative
Stapleton, secretly a Baskerville heir, plots to murder Sir Henry to inherit the estate,… How this plays out →
Sir Charles Baskerville
rivalry · negative
Miss Stapleton
family · negative
Miss Stapleton
family · negative
Sir Henry Baskerville
rivalry · negative
Stapleton, secretly a Baskerville heir, plots to murder Sir Henry to inherit the estate,… How this plays out →
Sir Charles Baskerville
rivalry · negative
Sir Henry Baskerville
rivalry · negative
Stapleton, secretly a Baskerville heir, plots to murder Sir Henry to inherit the estate,… How this plays out →
Miss Stapleton
family · negative

Sir Henry Baskerville
Stapleton, secretly a Baskerville heir, plots to murder Sir Henry to inherit the estate, feigning friendship while planning his death.
Sir Charles Baskerville
Stapleton, as a secret Baskerville relative, engineered Sir Charles's death to clear his path to the inheritance.
Miss Stapleton
Miss Stapleton is actually the wife of Mr. Stapleton, though he passes her off as his sister to further his schemes.
Miss Stapleton
Miss Stapleton is actually the wife of Mr. Stapleton, though he passes her off as his sister to further his schemes.
Sir Henry Baskerville
Stapleton, secretly a Baskerville heir, plots to murder Sir Henry to inherit the estate, feigning friendship while planning his death.
Sir Charles Baskerville
Stapleton, as a secret Baskerville relative, engineered Sir Charles's death to clear his path to the inheritance.
Sir Henry Baskerville
Stapleton, secretly a Baskerville heir, plots to murder Sir Henry to inherit the estate, feigning friendship while planning his death.
Miss Stapleton
Miss Stapleton is actually the wife of Mr. Stapleton, though he passes her off as his sister to further his schemes.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Stapleton in VII: The Stapletons of Merripit House

In the story

Mr. Stapleton appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Curse of the Baskervilles
Mentioned as a mutual friend concerned about Sir Charles's health.
VII: The Stapletons of Merripit House
Introduces himself as a naturalist; discusses the legend of the hound and Sir Charles's death; invites Watson to Merripit House.
VIII: First Report of Dr. Watson
Guarded about supernatural beliefs; shows disapproval of Sir Henry's attention to his sister; has a dry glitter in his eyes and a firm set of lips.
IX: Second Report of Dr. Watson
Mentioned as disapproving of Sir Henry's courtship of Miss Stapleton.
Death on the Moor
Arrives at the scene of Selden's death and reacts with shock, but quickly composes himself.
XIV: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Flees into the Grimpen Mire after the hound is killed; presumed dead.
XV: A Retrospection
Revealed as the true criminal, a Baskerville descendant who plotted the murders.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. Stapleton unlock in the free preview.

See Mr. Stapleton in VII: The Stapletons of Merripit House

See Mr. Stapleton in The Curse of the Baskervilles