# Arthur Fletcher — The Prime Minister character guide > Arthur Fletcher in The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Fletcher, Arthur, Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Arthur Fletcher **First appearance:** 0014-xv-arthur-fletcher ## Snapshot An honest country gentleman and Member of Parliament who loses Emily to Lopez, then waits — patiently, painfully — to be allowed to try again. ## Who they are Fletcher is the steady alternative to Lopez: landed, well-connected, unglamorous, and constant. He had loved Emily before her marriage and does not stop loving her after it, and his quiet persistence — dining in Manchester Square, deferring to her mourning, refusing to press — is the measure against which the novel asks us to judge what she chose instead. He matters because his patience is the story's moral counterweight, and because the question of whether Emily can ever accept him again is what keeps the last third of the book in suspense. ## Relationships ### [Emily Lopez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/emily_lopez) _romantic_ Former suitor and lifelong friend; Arthur remains in love with Emily and hopes to marry her after her husband's death. ### [Ferdinand Lopez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/ferdinand_lopez) _rivalry_ Rivals for Emily's affection; Arthur despises Ferdinand as a dishonest man who mistreated the woman he loves. ### [Emily Lopez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/emily_lopez) _romantic_ Former suitor and lifelong friend; Arthur remains in love with Emily and hopes to marry her after her husband's death. ### [Ferdinand Lopez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/ferdinand_lopez) _rivalry_ Rivals for Emily's affection; Arthur despises Ferdinand as a dishonest man who mistreated the woman he loves. ### [Ferdinand Lopez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/ferdinand_lopez) _rivalry_ Rivals for Emily's affection; Arthur despises Ferdinand as a dishonest man who mistreated the woman he loves. ### [Emily Lopez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/emily_lopez) _romantic_ Former suitor and lifelong friend; Arthur remains in love with Emily and hopes to marry her after her husband's death. ## In the story ### [No One Knows Anything About Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/v-no-one-knows-anything-about-him) Mentioned as an alternative suitor whom Emily insists she will never love. ### [XIII: Mr. Wharton Complains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xiii-mr-wharton-complains) Mentioned as an English gentleman whom Emily had met at Wharton; Mr. Wharton regrets that Emily did not choose him over Lopez. ### [Arthur Fletcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xv-arthur-fletcher) Arthur is introduced as a handsome, popular, and successful younger son of the Fletcher family, deeply in love with Emily Wharton. He is devastated to learn of her interest in Ferdinand Lopez but resolves to confront her directly. ### [Never Run Away!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xvi-never-run-away) Arthur is heartbroken over Emily's rejection and contemplates abandoning his legal career to travel the world. His brother John chides him for his despondency. ### [Goodbye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xvii-goodbye) Resolves to accept Emily's choice, meets her to say goodbye, and vows to remain her friend despite his heartbreak. ### [St. James's Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxii-st-james-s-park) Mentioned as a rival for Emily and as someone who had a falling out with Everett over Lopez. ### [The Marriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxiv-the-marriage) Receives Emily's letter about her marriage and replies briefly, sending no present but remaining in her thoughts. ### [The Two Candidates for Silverbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxix-the-two-candidates-for-silverbridge) Emerges as the opposition candidate for Silverbridge, backed by the De Courcy interest; Lopez reflects on having beaten him once before. ### [Yes;—A Lie!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxx-yes-a-lie) Writes to Emily explaining his candidacy at Silverbridge was pledged before knowing Lopez would stand; expresses hope for mutual good-fellowship. ### [Yes;—with a Horsewhip in My Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxi-yes-with-a-horsewhip-in-my-hand) Mentioned as the opposing candidate; Emily reflects on his gentlemanly qualities, contrasting them with Lopez's behavior. ### [Showing That a Man Should Not Howl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxiii-showing-that-a-man-should-not-howl) Resolves to carry his hopeless love for Emily as a lifelong burden; writes a careful letter to her about the election; rides recklessly in the hunting field, prompting his brother's concern. ### [The Silverbridge Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-silverbridge-election) Prepares for the election at Greshamsbury, learning of the third candidate Du Boung and the Duke's neutral stance, which improves his prospects. ### [Lopez Back in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxv-lopez-back-in-london) Referenced as the subject of Lopez's anger for writing to Emily and as the opponent in the Silverbridge altercation. Lopez claims Fletcher insulted his wife. ### [The Jolly Blackbird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxvi-the-jolly-blackbird) Dines with Mr. Wharton at the Jolly Blackbird, discusses his unrequited love for Emily and his new parliamentary interests in land drainage. ### [Get Round Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxix-get-round-him) Recalled by Emily with regret; his letter was innocent and his character is contrasted favorably with Lopez's. ### [Retribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xlii-retribution) Referenced in the context of the Silverbridge election as the successful candidate. ### [The Explanation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lvii-the-explanation) Asked to undertake the task of questioning the Duke, he indignantly refuses, dismissing the matter as beneath him. ### [The First and the Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lix-the-first-and-the-last) Arthur visits Emily despite the ban, expressing his undying love and urging her to leave Lopez. He kisses her in farewell, leading to a confrontation with Lopez. ### [The Widow and Her Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxi-the-widow-and-her-friends) Renews his interest in Emily but is told by Mr. Wharton that she is not yet ready to see him. ### [There Must Be Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxv-there-must-be-time) Writes to Mr. Wharton, declaring his unchanged love for Emily and seeking permission to see her, arguing that the usual mourning period should be abridged. ### [Mrs. Lopez Prepares to Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxvii-mrs-lopez-prepares-to-move) Emily fears encountering him at Wharton; she still loves him but feels it is treasonous to think of joy. ### [At Wharton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxx-at-wharton) Expected to arrive at Wharton Hall; Emily is determined to avoid meeting him as a lover, though the family hopes for a reconciliation. ### [The Ladies at Longbarns Doubt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxi-the-ladies-at-longbarns-doubt) Welcomes Emily to Longbarns, expresses fear of refusal to his mother, resolves to propose when it will give her more pleasure than pain. ### [I Am Disgraced and Shamed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxiv-i-am-disgraced-and-shamed) Renews his suit to Emily after a year of mourning, visiting Manchester Square frequently and planning his approach. ### [The Great Wharton Alliance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxv-the-great-wharton-alliance) Not seen in Manchester Square; his name is not mentioned by Mr. Wharton; Mary hopes he will marry Emily. ### [The Duchess in Manchester Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxvii-the-duchess-in-manchester-square) Mentioned as the present member for Silverbridge and Emily's former lover; the Duchess hopes to reunite them. ### [The Wharton Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxix-the-wharton-wedding) Acts as best man at the wedding and presses his suit to Emily, arguing it is her duty to marry him. ### [The Last Meeting at Matching](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxx-the-last-meeting-at-matching) Now engaged to Emily Wharton, he discusses his postponed marriage with the Duchess, who congratulates him and calls him a hero among lovers. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/arthur_fletcher - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters