# Sir Benjamin Backbite — The School for Scandal character guide

> Sir Benjamin Backbite in The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Benjamin, Benjamin, Backbite, dear Sir Benjamin, Sir Benjamin Gad, Sir Benjamin O Lud, Sir Benjamin Hey, Sir Benjamin Ay, Sir Benjamin Dutch, Sir Benjamin No, Sir Benjamin Mr. Surface

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

## Snapshot

A foppish young baronet with a poet's pretensions and a slanderer's instincts, forever dueling with his uncle Crabtree over whose scandal to tell first.

## Who they are

Sir Benjamin moves through Lady Sneerwell's salon as both suitor to Maria and licensed wit, his malice dressed in the polished verse he composes for the company. He and his uncle Crabtree compete to narrate the same rumor, each embellishing where the other left off, so that truth is buried under two versions of the same lie. His pursuit of Maria and his readiness to blacken Charles's name make him a useful instrument for Joseph's schemes, whether or not he understands whose game he is playing.

## Relationships

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

_social_

Sir Benjamin flirts with Lady Teazle as part of the fashionable social scene, but without genuine romantic intent.

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

_social_

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

### [Crabtree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_school_for_scandal_se/characters/crabtree)

_social_

They are uncle and nephew, both gossips who revel in scandal and slander together.

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

_social_

They are fellow gossips who delight in spreading rumors and scandal about others.

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

_social_

Sir Benjamin is a superficial acquaintance who gossips about Sir Oliver and his family.

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

_social_

Sir Benjamin is a social acquaintance who flirts with Lady Teazle, causing Sir Peter's jealousy.

## Links

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