# Stephen Guest — The Mill on the Floss character guide > Stephen Guest in The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Guest, Mr. Guest, Mr. Stephen Guest, Stephen **First appearance:** 0045-i-a-duet-in-paradise ## Snapshot Handsome, wealthy, and effortlessly charming heir of Guest & Co., whose gallantries to Lucy Stelling mask a dangerous pull toward Maggie. ## Who they are Stephen Guest is a privileged young man in St. Ogg's, admired for his looks, his fortune, and his easy way with everyone. At the bazaar he flirts with Lucy, buys nothing from Maggie, and wears a scarlet fez with the confidence of a man who carries all before him. His charm and his weakness for the woman he cannot rightly have set the novel's most painful temptation in motion. ## Relationships ### [Maggie Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/maggie_tulliver) _romantic_ Intense, forbidden attraction that leads to scandal and moral conflict for Maggie. ### [Lucy Deane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/lucy_deane) _romantic_ Engaged couple, with Lucy's innocent affection betrayed by Stephen's attraction to Maggie. ### [Philip Wakem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/philip_wakem) _rivalry_ Rivals for Maggie's affection, with Philip's intellectual depth contrasting Stephen's charismatic appeal. ### [Maggie Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/maggie_tulliver) _romantic_ Intense, forbidden attraction that leads to scandal and moral conflict for Maggie. ### [Maggie Tulliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/maggie_tulliver) _romantic_ Intense, forbidden attraction that leads to scandal and moral conflict for Maggie. ### [Lucy Deane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/lucy_deane) _romantic_ Engaged couple, with Lucy's innocent affection betrayed by Stephen's attraction to Maggie. ### [Lucy Deane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/lucy_deane) _romantic_ Engaged couple, with Lucy's innocent affection betrayed by Stephen's attraction to Maggie. ### [Philip Wakem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/philip_wakem) _rivalry_ Rivals for Maggie's affection, with Philip's intellectual depth contrasting Stephen's charismatic appeal. ## In the story ### [Book VI: The Great Temptation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/book-vi-the-great-temptation) Pursues Maggie despite his engagement to Lucy, representing the temptation she faces. ### [A Duet in Paradise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/i-a-duet-in-paradise) A fine young man, heir to the largest oil-mill in St. Ogg's, who flirts with Lucy and shows slight annoyance at Maggie's impending visit. ### [First Impressions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/ii-first-impressions) Stephen takes Maggie and Lucy boating, is intrigued by Maggie's beauty and poverty, and later visits for music. He is half-engaged to Lucy. ### [Confidential Moments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iii-confidential-moments) Mentioned as the singer of the fine bass voice; Maggie is aware of his admiring glances but does not dwell on him distinctly. ### [VI: Illustrating the Laws of Attraction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/vi-illustrating-the-laws-of-attraction) Stephen's attentions to Lucy become more assiduous, yet he is secretly drawn to Maggie, avoiding being alone with her while longing for her presence. ### [Philip Re-Enters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/vii-philip-re-enters) Arrives unexpectedly, exchanges cold greetings with Maggie, and participates in the musical duet. ### [IX: Charity in Full-Dress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/ix-charity-in-full-dress) Pays attention to Lucy but eventually approaches Maggie, expressing concern and pressing her to accept refreshments. ### [X: The Spell Seems Broken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/x-the-spell-seems-broken) Torn between love and honor, jealous of Philip, and drawn irresistibly to Maggie; tries to keep aloof but fails. ### [XI: In the Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/xi-in-the-lane) Stephen passionately urges Maggie to marry him, arguing that their love is natural and that their other ties are mistaken. He is visibly tormented and desperate for her affection. ### [XIII: Borne Along by the Tide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/xiii-borne-along-by-the-tide) Deliberately arranges to be alone with Maggie; struggles with his own desire and guilt, but ultimately presses her to continue the boat ride. ### [Waking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/xiv-waking) Desperately tries to convince Maggie to marry him, but is ultimately rejected. ### [Book VII: The Final Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/book-vii-the-final-rescue) Flees with Maggie but is not present in the final flood scene; his actions set the stage for the climax. ### [The Return to the Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/i-the-return-to-the-mill) Referenced as the man with whom Maggie eloped; his whereabouts are unknown, and Bob harbors resentment toward him. ### [II: St. Ogg’s Passes Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/ii-st-ogg-s-passes-judgment) Has fled to Holland; his letter blaming himself is dismissed by public opinion as a romantic attempt to shield Maggie. ### [IV: Maggie and Lucy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/iv-maggie-and-lucy) Stephen is discussed indirectly; Lucy's family hopes he will join her at the coast, and Maggie urges Lucy to forgive him. ### [The Last Conflict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/chapters/v-the-last-conflict) Writes a desperate letter from Mudport, reproaching Maggie and begging her to call him back, revealing his continued passion and despair. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters/stephen_guest - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mill_on_the_floss_se/characters