# Benjamin — The Law and the Lady character guide > Benjamin in The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Benjamin, Mr. Benjamin, simple old Benjamin, dear old Benjamin, good Benjamin, good old Benjamin, Even Benjamin, Kindhearted Benjamin, My kind old Benjamin **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-bride-s-mistake ## Snapshot Valeria's elderly, tenderhearted father, who would rather see her happy than safe and cannot bear to watch her suffer. ## Who they are Benjamin is the quiet, devoted old man who raised Valeria and now watches her marry a stranger with a shadowed past. Where Major Fitz-David counsels caution, Benjamin counsels surrender — he sides with his daughter when she demands the trial report, unable to deny her anything even when denial would be kinder. His helpless tenderness sharpens the novel's central ache: love that can only stand by while the beloved walks into danger. ## Relationships ### [Miserrimus Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/miserrimus_dexter) _professional_ Benjamin, as a lawyer's clerk, interacts with Dexter in the context of legal proceedings and investigations. ### [Major Fitz-David](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/major_fitz_david) _friendship_ Benjamin and Major Fitz-David are allies and companions, often working together to support Valeria's quest. ### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/ariel) _social_ Ariel and Benjamin are acquaintances who interact primarily through their connections to Dexter and the investigation. ### [Mr. Playmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/mr_playmore) _professional_ Benjamin and Mr. Playmore are colleagues in the legal profession, collaborating on the case. ### [Eustace Macallan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/eustace_macallan) _friendship_ Benjamin is a steadfast friend to Eustace, helping him navigate the legal crisis. ### [Mr. Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/mr_dexter) _professional_ Benjamin interacts with Mr. Dexter in a legal capacity, often as an intermediary or investigator. ### [Valeria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/valeria) _friendship_ Benjamin is a devoted friend and helper to Valeria, assisting her in her investigation. ### [Valeria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/valeria) _friendship_ Benjamin is a devoted friend and helper to Valeria, assisting her in her investigation. ### [Major Fitz-David](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/major_fitz_david) _friendship_ Benjamin and Major Fitz-David are allies and companions, often working together to support Valeria's quest. ### [Mr. Playmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/mr_playmore) _professional_ Benjamin and Mr. Playmore are colleagues in the legal profession, collaborating on the case. ### [Eustace Macallan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/eustace_macallan) _friendship_ Benjamin is a steadfast friend to Eustace, helping him navigate the legal crisis. ### [Mr. Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/mr_dexter) _professional_ Benjamin interacts with Mr. Dexter in a legal capacity, often as an intermediary or investigator. ## In the story ### [I: The Bride’s Mistake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/i-the-bride-s-mistake) Her father's old clerk, who gives her away and bids her a quiet goodbye. ### [III: Ramsgate Sands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/iii-ramsgate-sands) Not present in this chapter. ### [VI: My Own Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/vi-my-own-discovery) Valeria's father's old clerk; advises her to seek information from an intimate friend of Eustace, leading her to Major Fitz-David. ### [On the Way to the Major](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/vii-on-the-way-to-the-major) Advises Valeria to be cautious and offers to pave the way with Major Fitz-David. ### [The Return to Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xi-the-return-to-life) Watches over Valeria with tears; accompanies Eustace to the Major's house and is suspected of knowing more than he reveals. ### [XII: The Scotch Verdict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xii-the-scotch-verdict) Benjamin is in the study with Major Fitz-David when Valeria returns to seek help. ### [XIII: The Man’s Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xiii-the-man-s-decision) Advises Valeria to let her have her way in reading the trial; accompanies her and the Major to the hotel. ### [XIV: The Woman's Answer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xiv-the-woman-s-answer) Provides Valeria with lodging at his villa; is bewildered by her letter but supports her. ### [XXI: I See My Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxi-i-see-my-way) Valeria stays in his house; he informs her of Major Fitz-David's visit. ### [The Major Makes Difficulties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxii-the-major-makes-difficulties) Present during the discussion; obediently records the dinner engagement despite his own reluctance. ### [More of My Obstinacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxvi-more-of-my-obstinacy) Benjamin's house is where Mrs. Macallan drops Valeria off and where the pony-chaise arrives the next morning. ### [The Defense of Mrs. Beauly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxi-the-defense-of-mrs-beauly) Cares for Valeria during her recovery, accompanies her to the dinner party, and feels out of place among the guests. ### [A Specimen of My Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxii-a-specimen-of-my-wisdom) Advises Valeria to avoid Miserrimus Dexter, helps her obtain a letter of introduction, and accompanies her to Edinburgh. ### [Gleninch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxiv-gleninch) Accompanies Valeria to Edinburgh but refuses to visit Gleninch, citing an old friend. ### [Mr. Playmore’s Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxv-mr-playmore-s-prophecy) Stupefied by Dexter's dramatic entrance and speech; withdraws to the next room but returns when Valeria cries out for help. ### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxvi-ariel) Mentioned as being out for a little while when Ariel arrives. ### [On the Journey Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxviii-on-the-journey-back) Valeria writes to him to expect her the next evening. ### [On the Way to Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxix-on-the-way-to-dexter) Strongly disapproves of the visit to Dexter, but reluctantly agrees to accompany Valeria and take notes using her signaling system. ### [Nemesis at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xl-nemesis-at-last) Accompanies Valeria as a protective figure, carrying a cane and rebuking Dexter for his familiarity. ### [XLI: Mr. Playmore in a New Character](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xli-mr-playmore-in-a-new-character) Makes fair copies of his shorthand notes for Valeria to send to Mr. Playmore. ### [At Last!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xliii-at-last) Mentioned as the address where Valeria directs Mr. Playmore to send future letters. ### [Our New Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xliv-our-new-honeymoon) Found experimenting with torn paper puzzles; receives Mr. Playmore's confidential letter and assists in the search for the torn document. ### [XLV: The Dust-Heap Disturbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlv-the-dust-heap-disturbed) Writes to Valeria detailing the search and reconstruction of the torn letter; works with the chemist and Mr. Playmore. ### [XLVI: The Crisis Deferred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlvi-the-crisis-deferred) Writes to Valeria about the progress in reconstructing the letter; reports that the arsenic was procured at the wife's request. ### [XLVIII: What Else Could I Do?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlviii-what-else-could-i-do) Mentioned as having written down the words that led to the discovery of the truth. ### [Past and Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlix-past-and-future) Provides information about Eustace's letter to Mrs. Beauly and Mr. Playmore's plan for the sealed confession. ### [The Last of the Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/l-the-last-of-the-story) Mentioned as a godfather for Valeria's son; his letters helped inform Eustace. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/benjamin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters