The Works of Max Beerbohm · Character

Mr. Coates

An eccentric old father whose oddity shadows his son Romeo, a minor figure in the dandy chronicle.

supporting

Also known as 1807 old Mr. Coates

First appearance: Poor Romeo!

As a supporting figure in The Works of Max Beerbohm, Mr. Coates is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The Antiguan amateur actor whose disastrous debut as Romeo in Bath is the focus of the chapter; he later becomes a figure of absurd ostentation.

In the storyPoor Romeo!Open this moment free

See Mr. Coates in Poor Romeo!Book page

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Coates belongs to the book's gallery of marginal grotesques, the sort of elderly oddity whose habits and pretensions Beerbohm notes with a raised eyebrow. He is less a plot agent than an atmosphere, a reminder that dandyism had its embarrassing relatives as well as its heroes. His presence in the early pages helps establish the collection's method: to understand an age, you must look at its fools as carefully as its wits.

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The fuller portrait of Mr. Coates sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mr. Coates in Poor Romeo!

Character Web

7 connections

A slice of how Mr. Coates sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Family
Friendship
Social
Other

Character groups

Romance, Eccentricity, and Social Climbing
Aesthetic Movement and Dandy Gallery

+2 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because the narrator’s long-held, idealized image of Walter Pater as a sublime sty…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Emma
romantic · positive
Emma was romantically involved with Mr. How this plays out →
Romeo Coates
family · positive
Mr. Pryse Gordon
friendship · positive
Sir James Tylney Long
social · ambivalent
Romeo Coates
family · positive

Emma
Emma was romantically involved with Mr. Coates, likely as a lover or mistress, with a dynamic of affection and dependency.
Romeo Coates
Mr. Coates and Romeo Coates were likely father and son, with a relationship of paternal guidance and shared theatrical interests.
Mr. Pryse Gordon
Mr. Coates and Mr. Pryse Gordon were friends and fellow theatrical enthusiasts, often collaborating or socializing.
Sir James Tylney Long
Mr. Coates and Sir James Tylney Long were social acquaintances, moving in overlapping aristocratic and theatrical circles.
Romeo Coates
Mr. Coates and Romeo Coates were likely father and son, with a relationship of paternal guidance and shared theatrical interests.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Coates in Poor Romeo!

In the story

Mr. Coates appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Poor Romeo!

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. Coates unlock in the free preview.

See Mr. Coates in Poor Romeo!