Character Analysis Of The Character Of Rowland Mallet

To add more weight to his overloaded conscience, Mrs Light begs Rowland to help persuade her daughter to marry the prince, whom we previously learnt the girl had rejected. Like her daughter, Mrs Light is emotionally manipulating Rowland Mallet, and this influence is evident when she first chastises him for not doing her bidding, â€Å"Oh cruel, deadly man! You must advise her; you shan’t leave this house till you have advised her!† (304) Moments later, she goes on to flatter him by saying, â€Å"I said to Christina the first time I saw you that you were a perfect gentleman, and very different from some!† (304) By calling into question Rowland’s proclivity for social decorum — namely, to be an exemplar of a gentleman — Mrs Light therefore ignites in†¦show more content†¦Do you suppose I would give Christina to a vicious person? Do you suppose I would sacrifice my precious child, little comfort as I have in her, to a man against whose character a syllable could be breathed?† (305) Next, the elder woman continues to panegyrizes the virtuous qualities of the prince to Rowland, nonetheless what deeply touches him is not her melodramatic display, but rather the humble petition of the Cavaliere, â€Å"If you could bring yourself†¦to address a few words of solemn remonstrance to Miss Light you would perhaps do more for us than you know. You would save several persons a great deal of pain. The dear signora first, and then Christina herself. Christina in particular. Me too I might take the liberty to add!† (307) Furthermore, the petitions of Mrs Light and her manservant to influence the young woman’s decision to marry, according to Rowland would not â€Å"have any weight with Christina.† (307) Poor Rowland Mallet is compelled to obey, whereupon he pleads their case to the girl whose beauty the writer describes as belonging â€Å"to a deposed sovereign or a condemned martyr.† (308) B y alluding to Miss Light as a deposed sovereign may signify her power, to command men, has now come to an end, that she, in a word, will be metaphorically toppled — through violent insurrection. On the other hand, by implying that she is a condemned martyr connotes that she is willing to