# Mr. Cardan — Those Barren Leaves character guide > Mr. Cardan in Those Barren Leaves by Aldous Huxley. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cardan, old Cardan, Tom Cardan, Tommy **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-an-evening-at-mrs-aldwinkle-s ## Snapshot A witty, impecunious old cynic who treats conversation as a blood sport and money as the only serious subject left to a gentleman. ## Who they are Cardan drifts through Mrs. Aldwinkle's villa as its most amused and least illusioned guest, forever cadging, appraising, and puncturing other people's romantic self-importance. He confesses that love, debt, and drink have undone him, yet he savors the ruin with Rabelaisian relish, dreaming of art-dealing swindles he is too idle to attempt. His winking eye sees through every pose, which makes him both the novel's sharpest comic instrument and the quiet measure of its characters' self-deceptions. ## In the story ### [Part I: An Evening at Mrs. Aldwinkle’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/part-i-an-evening-at-mrs-aldwinkle-s) Present as a guest, engaged in conversation on the terrace. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iii) Dominates the dinner conversation with a lengthy discourse on hypocrisy, love, and the decline of formality; described in detail as a middle-aged, thickly built man with a red, knobbly face and a melodious voice. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iv) Offers a witty, sociological explanation of passion as a product of leisure and warm climates, teasing Irene and provoking Mrs. Aldwinkle. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/v) Engages in a philosophical discussion about reading and misunderstanding, displaying his characteristic tact and ironic humor. He recalls Miss Thriplow's earlier performance of a sophisticated persona. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vii) Engages in philosophical banter with Calamy about boredom and the climacteric; suggests drinking Chianti. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vii) The red-faced man; makes witty remarks, including about the exception and the rule. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ii) Observes the couples from the terrace, engages in a philosophical argument with Mr. Falx about morality and hypocrisy, admits he argues only to kill time. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as someone who would have enjoyed hearing Mrs. Aldwinkle talk about herself, noting the contrast between her self-image and others' perception. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iv) Leads the dinner conversation on feminism and laughs at Irene's remark. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/v) Leads the walk and conversation, speculating on art dealing and the sculpture's provenance; expounds on aesthetic theory and positive vs. negative living. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vi) Lost in the dark, he adopts a theatrical, Dante-quoting persona to engage the Elvers, masking his deep melancholy and fear of aging and death. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vii) Manipulates Mr. Elver with wine and probing questions, feigning sympathy to extract confessions about his sister. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/viii) Contemplates marrying Miss Elver for her inheritance, weighing moral scruples against the promise of a comfortable old age. He flatters and manipulates her, but is disturbed by her naive devotion. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ix) Leads Miss Elver on an early morning walk to the lake, visits the grocer's brother to inspect a marble statue, and reflects on the ease of his success with Miss Elver. ### [Mrs. Chelifer's Arrival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/x) Grateful for Mrs. Chelifer's presence; revises his plans to stay longer at the palace; decides to invite Mrs. Chelifer after his marriage. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/i) Sits in the limousine and talks with Mrs. Chelifer about traditional games. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ii) Offers cynical commentary on poverty, St. Francis, and Goethe's visit to Assisi; observes Miss Elver trailing a bandana. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iii) Defends natural hierarchy and the right to enjoy art and other 'dopes' for adaptation; observes Miss Elver's gluttony. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iv) Accompanies Mrs. Chelifer and Miss Elver; explains the cats in the Forum of Trajan. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/v) Leads the exploration of the Etruscan tomb, enthusiastically discussing the Etruscan language and its potential for a gentleman's education. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vi) Orders dinner expertly, tells the story of Bishop Defuk, warns against the fish, and later is sought by Irene when Miss Elver falls ill. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/viii) Decides the local doctor is untrustworthy due to his Siena degree. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ix) Sits alone in the church, grimly contemplating death and the futility of the spirit; pays for the funeral. ### [Part V: Conclusions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/part-v-conclusions) Appears in the concluding sections, reflecting on events. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ii) Engages Mary Thriplow in conversation about Calamy's retreat, feeling unusually cheerful since Grace's funeral. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iv) Offers pragmatic observations on tribalism, individuality, and the difficulties of the contemplative life; announces his departure for Monte Carlo with Lilian. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/characters/mr_cardan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/characters