The Mysteries of Udolpho Character Analysis

Emily St. Aubert

Emily is the novel’s protagonist, a beautiful young woman who appreciates nature and poetry and who has a strong sense of morality. She is the daughter of St. Aubert and Madame St. Aubert, the… read analysis of Emily St. Aubert

Valancourt

Valancourt is the main love interest of the novel, a young man who is so generous that he risks not having enough for himself. He has a brother (Count de Duvernay) and meets… read analysis of Valancourt

St. Aubert

St. Aubert Emily’s father and Madame St. Aubert’s husband. He has a mysterious relationship to the Marchioness de Villeroi, who seems at first to be his lover but turns out to really… read analysis of St. Aubert

Madame Cheron/Madame Montoni

Madame Cheron is the sister of St. Aubert and the aunt (and only surviving relative) of Emily after St. Aubert and his wife, Madame St. Aubert, die. Madame Cheron begins the novel as a… read analysis of Madame Cheron/Madame Montoni

Montoni

Montoni is the villain of the story who becomes Emily’s guardian after he marries her aunt, Madame Cheron. At first, Montoni seems to be a wealthy and respectable gentleman, but Emily and the… read analysis of Montoni

Annette

Annette is a maid of Madame Cheron’s who eventually becomes Emily’s servant and closest confidant. She also eventually marries Ludovico, a servant that she loves for his bravery. Annette is more superstitious… read analysis of Annette

Count Morano

Count Morano is an associate of Montoni, and initially Montoni tries to trick Emily into marrying Count Morano in order to secure her financial future. Count Morano is enthusiastic about trying to court Emily… read analysis of Count Morano

Signora Laurentini/Agnes

Signora Laurentini is an Italian woman who was living at the castle of Udolpho but mysteriously disappeared one day. Her lover, the Marquis De Villeroi, was already married, but she schemed with him to… read analysis of Signora Laurentini/Agnes

Madame St. Aubert

Emily’s mother and St. Aubert’s wife is kind and generous. She married St. Aubert for love rather than money. Madame St. Aubert dies of a mysterious illness, but she dies peacefully and attempts… read analysis of Madame St. Aubert

Ludovico

Ludovico is a brave servant at the castle of Udolpho who eventually marries fellow servant Annette. He protects Annette whenever danger comes up, and he risks his own life when he goes to examine… read analysis of Ludovico

Marchioness De Villeroi

The Marchioness De Villeroi is a mysterious figure who dies young (before the events in the novel’s present), seemingly of poison by her husband the Marquis De Villeroi (who was working with his secret lover… read analysis of Marchioness De Villeroi

Count De Villefort

Count De Villefort is the father of Henri and Blanche and the eventual friend of Emily. Although he cares for Emily’s well-being, he mistakenly passes on false information about Valancourt that causes Emily to… read analysis of Count De Villefort

Du Pont

Du Pont is a prospective suitor of Emily’s who sometimes stalks her from a distance, making her think that he’s a ghost. He steals a miniature of Emily from Madame St. Aubert. Ultimately… read analysis of Du Pont

Dorothée

Dorothée is the former servant of the Marchioness De Villeroi who eventually works for the Count De Villefort in the same chateau where her former mistress lived. She remains devoted to her dead former lady… read analysis of Dorothée

Minor Characters

Marquis De Villeroi

The Marquis De Villeroi is a man who schemes to kill his wife, the Marchioness De Villeroi, in order to be with his lover, Signora Laurentini years before the novel begins. He later regrets his decision, leaving his chateau after his wife’s death and dying alone.

Countess De Villefort

The Countess De Villefort is the wife of the Count De Villefort. She is initially disappointed by his decision to move from Paris to a rural chateau but who learns to make the best of it.

Orsino

Orsino is a shady figure in Venice who arranges for the assassination of a prominent nobleman, prompting the Senate to investigate. Orsino uses Montoni’s debts with him in order to force Montoni to harbor him, a situation that eventually leads to both of their deaths.

Blanche

Blanche is the daughter of the Count De Villefort, the good friend of Emily, and the eventual wife of Chevalier St. Foix. Like Emily, she is kind and modest, and she appreciates nature.

Theresa

Theresa is Emily’s servant at La Vallée. Quesnel dismisses her, causing Emily to worry, but Valancourt proves his worth by using his own money to support Theresa.

Quesnel

Quesnel is Emily’s uncle. Like Madame Cheron, he is very materialistic, and he horrifies Emily by renting out St. Aubert’s La Vallée to strangers.

Madame Quesnel

Madame Quesnel is the wife of Quesnel and sister-in-law of Madame Cheron. She offends Emily by barely acknowledging the death of Madame St. Aubert.

Cavigni

Cavigni is a friend of Montoni along with Verezzi and Bertolini. He’s about 30 and initially presents himself as a suitor for Madame Cheron, though Montoni marries her instead. Cavigni continues to live with the couple, however.

Barnardine

Barnardine is an untrustworthy servant of Montoni’s. He seemingly lets Count Morano into the castle to kidnap Emily, then attempts again to help kidnap Emily by falsely promising to take her to see Madame Montoni.

Verezzi

Verezzi is a friend of Montoni along with Cavigni and Bertolini. Out of Montoni’s friends, Verezzi is the most passionate and the one with the quickest temper.

Bertolini

Verezzi is a friend of Montoni along with Cavigni and Verezzi. Bertolini is Montoni’s most good-natured friend, but he still inspires fear in Emily due to his controlling nature.

Madame Clairval

Madame Clairval is Valancourt’s aunt and a friend of Madame Cheron’s. She temporarily gets Madame Cheron to consider Valancourt as a husband for Emily.

Bonnac

Bonnac is a nobleman whom Emily meets while traveling. She gives him the castle at Udolpho at the end of the novel because he’s the closest surviving relative of the Udolpho family.

Chevalier St. Foix

Chevalier St. Foix is a brave young man who is similar in character to Valancourt and who eventually marries Blanche.

Baron St. Foix

Baron St. Foix is a friend of the Count De Villefort and the father of Chevalier St. Foix.

Michael

Michael is the mule driver for Emily and St. Aubert when they travel to Languedoc for St. Aubert’s health.

Count de Duvarney

Count de Duvarney is the wealthy brother of Valancourt whom Valancourt stays with for a while shortly after leaving Emily.

Bertrand and Ugo

Bertrand and Ugo are two of Montoni’s men who take Emily away to Marco’s cottage for her protection while Udolpho is under attack. They strongly imply that they may have committed murder for Montoni.

Marco

Marco is the father of Maddelina. He lives in a remote cottage that he seemingly received for helping Montoni with a favor, possibly an assassination.

Maddelina

Maddelina is the daughter of Marco who bonds with Emily while Montoni forces Emily to stay at Marco’s cottage.

Carlo

Carlo is a loyal servant of Montoni who helps foil Count Morano’s plan to abduct Emily.

La Voisin

La Voisin is a kind old peasant man who is present when St. Aubert dies.

Mademoiselle d’Emery

Mademoiselle d’Emery is a beautiful and wealth young woman that Valancourt dances with early in the novel, making Emily jealous.

Signora Livona

Signora Livona is the woman who becomes Montoni’s mistress very shortly after the death of Madame Montoni.

Frances

Frances is a nun who tells Emily a story about the life of Agnes that turns out to be largely false.

Henri

Henri is the son of the Count De Villefort from a previous marriage. Like his mother, he initially prefers city life over rural life.