# Captain George McBane — The Marrow of Tradition character guide

> Captain George McBane in The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** George, Captain McBane, McBane, George McBane

**First appearance:** 0009-viii-the-campaign-drags

## Snapshot

A burly, brutal man of dubious past who wants the social standing of the Clarendon Club and will use any leverage to get it.

## Who they are

Captain George McBane has money and a rough career behind him, but not the breeding that Wellington society demands. He cultivates Tom Delamere as a way into the Clarendon Club, having already caught Tom cheating at cards and filed the knowledge away. His appetite for recognition and his readiness to use violence make him a dangerous ally to the white-supremacy faction and a menace to anyone who crosses him.

## In the story

### [The Editor at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/iii-the-editor-at-work)

A coarse, ambitious man from poor-white stock, who made a fortune through convict labor. He joins Belmont in urging Carteret to act against Black advancement, and is viewed with suspicion by Jerry.

### [A Journey Southward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/v-a-journey-southward)

Enters the colored car to smoke; identified Miller to the conductor; represents aggressive white supremacy.

### [VIII: The Campaign Drags](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/viii-the-campaign-drags)

Favors direct and violent methods, resenting the aristocratic condescension of Carteret and Belmont.

### [IX: A White Man's "Nigger"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/ix-a-white-man-s-nigger)

Expresses violent racism, calling for lynching and destruction of the newspaper, and displays crude behavior that grates on Carteret.

### [XII: Another Southern Product](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xii-another-southern-product)

Identified as the target of Josh Green's revenge, the man who led the Klan raid that killed Josh's father.

### [The Social Aspirations of Captain McBane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xvii-the-social-aspirations-of-captain-mcbane)

Manipulates Delamere through debt to gain social entry into the Clarendon Club, revealing his social ambition and ruthless nature.

### [XXI: The Necessity of an Example](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxi-the-necessity-of-an-example)

Advocates for burning the accused, regardless of guilt, and argues for holding the entire black race responsible.

### [XXVIII: In Season and Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxviii-in-season-and-out)

Advocates for immediate action to intimidate Black voters and participates in the 'Big Three' meeting.

### [XXIX: Muttering of the Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxix-muttering-of-the-storm)

Openly advocates for violence against blacks, dismisses Dr. Miller's value, and expresses contempt for 'smart niggers.'

### [XXXV: “Mine Enemy, O Mine Enemy!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xxxv-mine-enemy-o-mine-enemy)

The only revolutionary committee member remaining with the mob; enjoys the violence and has a dormant appetite for killing negroes reawakened.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters/captain_mcbane
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/characters