# Arthur Burdon — The Magician character guide > Arthur Burdon in The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Burdon, Mr. Arthur Burdon, Mr. Burdon **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A rising London surgeon who trusts only in scalpel and evidence, he arrives in Paris to claim the woman he loves and finds his certainties tested. ## Who they are Arthur Burdon is a young English surgeon of growing reputation, engaged to Margaret Dauncey after a long, patient courtship, and visiting Paris to study French methods and finally set a wedding date. He is narrow but honest, brilliant at the operating table and awkward everywhere else, a man who believes the world yields to skill and hard work. That very confidence makes him easy prey for what he cannot dissect, and his love for Margaret becomes the fault line along which the story's trouble enters. ## Relationships ### [Margaret Dauncey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/margaret_dauncey) _romantic_ Arthur is deeply in love with Margaret and seeks to marry her, though their relationship is strained by external forces. ### [Susie Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/susie_boyd) _friendship_ Arthur and Susie are close friends and confidants, with Susie often supporting him through his troubles. ### [Oliver Haddo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/oliver_haddo) _rivalry_ Arthur and Oliver are bitter enemies, with Arthur opposing Oliver's sinister influence over Margaret. ### [Dr. Porhoët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/dr_porhoet) _friendship_ Arthur and Dr. Porhoët are friends and allies, with Dr. Porhoët offering wisdom and support to Arthur. ### [Dr. Richardson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/dr_richardson) _professional_ Arthur and Dr. Richardson are colleagues in the medical field, interacting in a professional capacity. ### [Frank Hurrell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/frank_hurrell) _friendship_ Arthur and Frank are friends, with Frank being a supportive companion to Arthur. ### [Mrs. Haddo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/mrs_haddo) _social_ Arthur interacts with Mrs. Haddo as an acquaintance, likely through her connection to Oliver. ### [Arbuthnot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/arbuthnot) _professional_ Arbuthnot is a professional contact of Arthur, possibly in a medical or academic context. ### [Margaret Dauncey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/margaret_dauncey) _romantic_ Arthur is deeply in love with Margaret and seeks to marry her, though their relationship is strained by external forces. ### [Margaret Dauncey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/margaret_dauncey) _romantic_ Arthur is deeply in love with Margaret and seeks to marry her, though their relationship is strained by external forces. ### [Susie Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/susie_boyd) _friendship_ Arthur and Susie are close friends and confidants, with Susie often supporting him through his troubles. ### [Susie Boyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/susie_boyd) _friendship_ Arthur and Susie are close friends and confidants, with Susie often supporting him through his troubles. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/i) A skilled, practical surgeon deeply in love with Margaret Dauncey; arrives in Paris to see her and study French surgical methods. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/ii) Arrives for tea; his past guardianship of Margaret and secret financial support are revealed, as well as his deep love for her. Susie notes his intense capacity for suffering. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/iii) Observes the bohemian scene with skepticism and engages in verbal sparring with Haddo. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/iv) Skeptical of Haddo's powers, he resolves to investigate Haddo through Frank Hurrell. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/v) Visits the Louvre with Margaret, moved by a statue's resemblance to her; later visits Dr. Porhoët and reacts skeptically to occult tales. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/vi) Receives and reads Frank Hurrell's letter about Haddo, then passes it to Susie Boyd. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/vii) Arrives at Margaret's studio, dismayed he didn't bring flowers; defends Margaret's dog by violently attacking Haddo. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/viii) Arthur laughs off Susie's warnings about Haddo, calling him a coward. He discusses marriage plans with Margaret and feels disgust toward Haddo. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/ix) Blissfully unaware of Margaret's betrayal, he enjoys a joyful dinner with her, full of plans for their future. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/x) Devastated by Margaret's marriage to Haddo; struggles with disbelief and self-torture; tries to excuse Margaret's actions. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xi) Shows signs of severe distress and aging due to Margaret's marriage; struggles with self-control and is deeply affected by Margaret's behavior. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xii) Confronts Haddo about the divorce; struggles with Margaret's revelations and his own skepticism. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xiii) Overcome by a powerful, inexplicable foreboding about Margaret's safety, Arthur returns to Paris and persuades Susie and Dr. Porhoët to travel to England with him. He recounts his visit to Venning and his growing obsession with Haddo's occult practices. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xiv) Accuses Haddo of murdering Margaret, questions Dr. Richardson, and forces his way into Skene. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xv) Driven by grief and determination, Arthur insists on the ritual despite exhaustion and Dr. Porhoët's reservations. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/chapters/xvi) Moody and obsessed with vengeance, he refuses to leave Venning and ultimately kills Haddo in a dark struggle. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters/arthur_burdon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magician_se/characters