# Joseph Surface — The School for Scandal character guide

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

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Joseph, Joseph Surface Ay, Joseph Surface Ha, Joseph Surface Ah, Joseph Surface That's, Joseph Surface Lady Sneerwell, Joseph Surface Sir, Joseph Surface Maria, Joseph Surface Hush, Joseph Surface Brother, Joseph Surface Madam, Joseph Surface Zounds, Joseph Surface Sir Peter!, Joseph Surface Egad, Joseph Surface Pshaw

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

## Snapshot

The elder Surface brother, universally praised as a model of sentiment, who uses his spotless reputation as cover for seducing his brother's beloved and his guardian's wife.

## Who they are

Joseph Surface has built a career on being spoken well of: Sir Peter calls him a 'youthful miracle of prudence, good sense, and benevolence,' and Maria's guardian trusts him implicitly. In private he conspires with Lady Sneerwell to slander Charles and win Maria's fortune, and he lectures on virtue only to drop it the moment it costs him anything. His hypocrisy is the engine of the plot, since every reputation he protects is one he intends to spend.

## Relationships

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

_psychological_

Joseph manipulates Sir Peter with feigned friendship while secretly pursuing Lady Teazle.

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

_romantic_

Joseph attempts to seduce Lady Teazle, creating a secret romantic intrigue behind Sir Peter's back.

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

_rivalry_

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

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

_family_

Joseph is Sir Oliver's nephew, but Sir Oliver sees through his hypocritical pretensions of virtue.

### [Sir Benjamin Backbite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/sir_benjamin_backbite)

_social_

They are fellow members of the gossipy social circle, with Joseph using Sir Benjamin for his schemes.

### [Mrs. Candour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/mrs_candour)

_social_

Joseph maintains a polite social connection with Mrs. Candour to stay informed of gossip.

### [Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/servant)

_professional_

Joseph orders his servant around imperiously, using him to facilitate his schemes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/joseph_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