# The Lady — The Man of Destiny character guide

> The Lady in The Man of Destiny by George Bernard Shaw.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lady, Lady Disappointed, Lady Sweetly

**First appearance:** 0000-the-man-of-destiny

## Snapshot

A stranger in the inn who matches the young General wit for wit, and gives away nothing she does not choose to.

## Who they are

Arriving at Tavazzano under circumstances she controls far better than she admits, the Lady refuses to be handled, questioned, or dismissed by any man in the room. Her composure and quick irony unsettle Napoleon precisely because they mirror his own theatrical gifts. She turns a routine stop on the road to Milan into a genuine duel, and the play's center of gravity shifts to her.

## Relationships

### [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/napoleon_bonaparte)

_psychological_

A tense, manipulative game of wits and seduction where each tries to outmaneuver the other for control of a secret letter.

### [Giuseppe Grandi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/giuseppe_grandi)

_professional_

Grandi and the Lady are co-conspirators in a plot to retrieve the letter, though their trust is fragile and self-serving.

### [Caesar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/caesar)

_social_

Caesar is a historical figure referenced by the Lady as a comparison to Napoleon, used to flatter or provoke him.

### [Beaulieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/beaulieu)

_social_

Beaulieu is an Austrian general mentioned in the context of the Lady's past connections, used to imply her espionage ties.

### [Excellency](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/excellency)

_professional_

Excellency is the Lady's employer or contact in the espionage network, assigning her the mission against Napoleon.

### [The French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_french)

_social_

The French soldiers and officers are generally suspicious of the Lady, seeing her as a foreign interloper.

### [Barras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/barras)

_social_

The Lady has a past connection to Barras, which she uses to gain credibility or leverage in her schemes.

## In the story

### [The Man of Destiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/chapters/the-man-of-destiny)

A mysterious and clever woman who arrives with a letter from Barras and ultimately outwits Napoleon.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_lady
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters