Mr. Franklin Blake, Senior Character Analysis in The Moonstone

Franklin Blake’s father, whose principal obsession in life is proving that he is the rightful heir to a dukedom. In pursuit of this goal, he involves himself with “the wicked Colonel” John Herncastle, who offers him important legal documents so long as Blake agrees to help guard the Moonstone and become the executor of Herncastle’s will (which means delivering the Diamond appropriately after Herncastle’s death, and ultimately leads Blake to send his son to bring Rachel Verinder the Diamond on her birthday). He dies the year after the Moonstone’s theft, which propels Franklin Blake to return to England and take back up his investigation.

Mr. Franklin Blake, Senior Character Timeline in The Moonstone

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Franklin Blake, Senior appears in The Moonstone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Rachel remembers him as cruel and unempathetic. Blake spent so long out of England because his father spent years trying fruitlessly to prove himself the rightful heir to a Dukedom. With his... (full context)

Detective Methods and Genre Standards Theme Icon

Betteredge is astonished at Franklin’s revelation—and most of all the fact that Franklin’s father became Herncastle’s executor. But Franklin says he has more information and asks Betteredge why he... (full context)

...deliver Herncastle’s present to Rachel. It turned out that, when Herncastle came back to England, Franklin’s father learned that Herncastle had papers that would help him prove the Dukedom he so desperately... (full context)

Everything went as planned— Franklin the Senior guarded the Diamond, and Herncastle sent his periodic letters—until a few months before Betteredge’s meeting... (full context)

Intention, Identity, and Personality Theme Icon

To the elder Franklin ’s delight, the jewelers he consulted agreed that the Moonstone was almost inconceivably valuable, although... (full context)

...one from Penelope confirming that Rachel and Julia reached London, and another from one of Franklin’s father ’s servants, explaining that Franklin went directly abroad, “wherever the railway chooses to take [him].”... (full context)

...finally meets Franklin again, he presents a letter from Mr. Bruff, revealing the death of Franklin’s father and imploring Franklin to return to England as soon as possible. (full context)

...his travels dulled his pain. However, the news that he must return to England after his father ’s passing is bringing this pain, and his desire for Rachel, back to the surface.... (full context)

...his room, supposedly, Franklin called Godfrey over and told him to deposit the Diamond in his father ’s bank, because “it’s not safe here.” Franklin fell asleep and Godfrey took the Diamond... (full context)