# Charles Surface — The School for Scandal character guide

> Charles Surface in The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Charles, Charles Surface Ay, Charles Surface Egad, Charles Surface Pshaw, Charles Surface What, Charles Surface Right, Charles Surface Sir Peter, Charles Surface Careless, Charles Surface Rowley, Charles Surface Stanley, Charles Surface Joseph, Charles Surface Gentlemen, Charles Surface Lady Teazle

**First appearance:** 0005-act-i

## Snapshot

The younger Surface, a spendthrift who auctions off the family portraits to pay his debts, yet hands a hundred pounds to a poor relation without a second thought.

## Who they are

Charles Surface is the brother everyone has written off: his debts mount, his house is under execution, and he sells his ancestors' paintings with a bow and a joke. But when old Rowley arrives with the money, Charles immediately orders a hundred pounds sent to the impoverished Mr. Stanley, and he refuses to part with the one portrait he cannot bear to lose. His reckless generosity is the counterweight to Joseph's polished selfishness, and the play's moral test turns on which brother is truly worth an inheritance.

## Relationships

### [Sir Oliver Surface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/sir_oliver_surface)

_family_

Charles is Sir Oliver's nephew, and Sir Oliver tests his character by disguising himself as a moneylender.

### [Sir Peter Teazle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/sir_peter_teazle)

_friendship_

Charles is friendly and open with Sir Peter, who appreciates his honesty despite his reckless behavior.

### [Joseph Surface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/joseph_surface)

_rivalry_

They are brothers but rivals in character, with Joseph's hypocrisy contrasting Charles's frankness.

### [Lady Teazle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/lady_teazle)

_friendship_

Charles treats Lady Teazle with friendly respect and does not participate in her flirtation, unlike his brother.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/charles_surface
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters