# Dudley Ruthyn — Uncle Silas character guide > Dudley Ruthyn in Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dud, Mr. Ruthyn, Dudley, Mr. Dudley Ruthyn, Dudley Ruthyn, Ruthyn, Mr. Dudley R. Ruthyn, Master Dudley, Mr. Dudley **First appearance:** 0043-volume-ii-vi-my-cousin-dudley ## Who they are Silas's brutish, thick-booted son, whose swaggering insolence and predatory interest in Maud make every encounter feel like a threat. ## Relationships ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _psychological_ Dudley Ruthyn, Uncle Silas's son, collaborates with Madame de la Rougierre in a sinister plot against Maud, sharing a manipulative and predatory alliance. ### [Maud Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/maud_ruthyn) _family_ Dudley is Maud's cousin, but he is a brutish and predatory figure who is forced upon her as a potential husband, creating a relationship of fear and revulsion. ### [Milly Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/milly_ruthyn) _family_ Dudley is Milly's brother, but he treats her with contempt and cruelty, showing no familial affection. ### [Milly Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/milly_ruthyn) _family_ Dudley is Milly's brother, but he treats her with contempt and cruelty, showing no familial affection. ### [Maud Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/maud_ruthyn) _family_ Dudley is Maud's cousin, but he is a brutish and predatory figure who is forced upon her as a potential husband, creating a relationship of fear and revulsion. ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _psychological_ Dudley Ruthyn, Uncle Silas's son, collaborates with Madame de la Rougierre in a sinister plot against Maud, sharing a manipulative and predatory alliance. ### [Madame de la Rougierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/madame_de_la_rougierre) _psychological_ Dudley Ruthyn, Uncle Silas's son, collaborates with Madame de la Rougierre in a sinister plot against Maud, sharing a manipulative and predatory alliance. ### [Maud Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/maud_ruthyn) _family_ Dudley is Maud's cousin, but he is a brutish and predatory figure who is forced upon her as a potential husband, creating a relationship of fear and revulsion. ### [Milly Ruthyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/milly_ruthyn) _family_ Dudley is Milly's brother, but he treats her with contempt and cruelty, showing no familial affection. ## In the story ### [VIII: The Smoker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-i-viii-the-smoker) Referred to as 'Dud'; meets Madame in the churchyard, smokes a pipe, and discusses Maud with a coarse, reluctant attitude; later harasses Maud on her walk. ### [Cousin Monica and Uncle Silas Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-iv-cousin-monica-and-uncle-silas-meet) Mentioned as having run away and possibly enlisted in a regiment going to India; Lady Knollys suggests he is a bad young man. ### [V: In Which I Make Another Cousin's Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-v-in-which-i-make-another-cousin-s-acquaintance) Dudley denies ever meeting Maud, speaks with a rustic accent, and is described by Milly as a 'woundy ugly customer in a wax' who frequents Liverpool and Birmingham. ### [VI: My Cousin Dudley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-vi-my-cousin-dudley) Dudley is coarse, impudent, and leering; he boasts of his irreligion, complains about his father's control over money, and attempts to kiss Maud. ### [Elverston and Its People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-vii-elverston-and-its-people) Mentioned as drinking and smoking at Feltram; Lady Knollys criticizes his idleness and financial irresponsibility. ### [X: A Chapter-Full of Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-x-a-chapter-full-of-lovers) Dudley confronts Maud alone, professes his liking for her, and later appears sulky and complaining about money troubles. ### [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xi-the-rivals) Confronts and violently beats Captain Oakley in the woods. ### [XIII: Question and Answer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xiii-question-and-answer) Dudley returns from Wolverhampton and makes an unwelcome marriage proposal to Maud, which she angrily rejects. ### [XIV: An Apparition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xiv-an-apparition) Dudley attempts courtship with gifts but is ultimately rejected and departs for Paris. ### [XV: Milly’s Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xv-milly-s-farewell) Dudley is the subject of Uncle Silas's suit; Maud finds him odious and refuses to marry him. ### [XVI: Sarah Matilda Comes to Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xvi-sarah-matilda-comes-to-light) Dudley is caught off guard by his wife's arrival and admits the marriage with sullen defiance. His earlier solicitation of Maud is exposed as bigamous treachery, and he shows contempt for both his father and his wife. ### [XVII: The Picture of a Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xvii-the-picture-of-a-wolf) Found weeping in the sitting-room; leaves by train after being disowned by his father. ### [An Odd Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xviii-an-odd-proposal) Dudley is reported to have sailed for Australia with his wife, but he confronts Maud before leaving and offers to take her away in exchange for £20,000. ### [In Search of Mr. Charke's Skeleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xix-in-search-of-mr-charke-s-skeleton) Maud mentions that Dudley and his wife have sailed away on the 'Seamew,' a fact that brings her relief and which she cherishes in a newspaper clipping. ### [XX: The Foot of Hercules](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xx-the-foot-of-hercules) Maud believes she saw his foot disappearing through the trapdoor, suggesting he never sailed. ### [I Conspire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxi-i-conspire) Revealed to be hiding on the grounds, conspiring with his father and Dickon Hawkes, and reluctant to carry out some dark plan. ### [XXIX: The Hour of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxix-the-hour-of-death) Commits the murder of Madame de la Rougierre with a hammer-like instrument. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/chapters/volume-ii-conclusion) Disappeared; possibly seen in Australia under the alias Colbroke, but not confirmed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters/dudley_ruthyn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/uncle_silas_se/characters