Uncle Julius Character Analysis in My Brilliant Career

Uncle Julius is Sybylla’s good-natured bachelor uncle who lives at Caddagat. He is jovial and affectionate; however, Sybylla suspects that his love for her is less than genuine when he showers Gertie with the same terms of endearment that he once used with Sybylla. Julius also makes fun of Sybylla’s desire to help the homeless workers who come through the family property. He believes that the poor experience poverty only because they are too lazy to achieve wealth, revealing that his kindness to his loved ones conceals a deep-seated prejudice against those outside of his social sphere.

Uncle Julius Character Timeline in My Brilliant Career

The timeline below shows where the character Uncle Julius appears in My Brilliant Career. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Sybylla’s Uncle Julius is set to return from Sydney to Caddagat in September, and he will be bringing... (full context)

On the afternoon before Uncle Julius and Everard Grey arrive, Mrs. Bossier sends Sybylla on an errand. Frank Hawden decides to... (full context)

Hawden and Sybylla return late in the afternoon, so Sybylla is only half-dressed when Uncle Julius arrives, and she can’t greet him until dinner. Aunt Helen helps Sybylla dress for dinner,... (full context)

Uncle Julius comes in for dinner. He is well-respected in all surrounding areas as generous and jolly,... (full context)

Mrs. Bossier arrives at the veranda. She looks at Sybylla disapprovingly, but Uncle Julius reminds his mother that she herself kissed boys in her youth, and Mrs. Bossier relents... (full context)

...sings together. Everard Grey has a well-trained baritone and plays the piano with skill. Uncle Julius encourages Sybylla to sing. She resists––she likes to sing, but only when no one can... (full context)

Ambition, Respectability, and Pride Theme Icon

Two days later, Everard and Uncle Julius leave Caddagat for Sydney. Hawden tells Sybylla that he is glad the “dandified ape” is... (full context)

Sybylla and Harold tease each other. When Sybylla mentions Uncle Julius is bringing a judge home for dinner, Harold says he cannot dine with a judge... (full context)

Uncle Julius comes home, and when Harold goes to greet him, Sybylla talks to Aunt Helen. This... (full context)

...getting distracted. She tells Gertie about the kindness of Mrs. Bossier, Aunt Helen, and Uncle Julius, and wishes Gertie could hear the beauty of the piano. She asks if Possum Gully... (full context)

...origins, and simply consider the men “a lazy lot of sneaking creatures.” Sybylla asks Uncle Julius if they could employ some of the beggars, or if some law could be made... (full context)

Sybylla’s conversation with Uncle Julius is interrupted by a beggar. Julius responds to the man rudely and tells him that... (full context)

...he worked on broke, and she secures his silence by promising not to tell Uncle Julius about the servant’s alleged mistake. When she finds her grandmother, Mrs. Bossier scolds her for... (full context)

...and estate owners, attend the races, and this year Sybylla goes with her family. Uncle Julius drives them to the course, and Sybylla cheers him on. Julius remarks that he is... (full context)

Uncle Julius notes Sybylla’s disappointment when she comes to help him with the horses, and he encourages... (full context)

...at all. Her only ambition is to find a profession that will support lifelong independence. Julius responds only with a joke, telling her that she can take up a profession as... (full context)

Sybylla leaves Julius to find Mrs. Bossier, but instead she finds Joe Archer, a jackaroo she knows from... (full context)

...other guests and the supply of alcohol persuade Harold to stay a bit longer. Uncle Julius tells Sybylla to pick fruit from the orchard, but when Goodchum offers to accompany her,... (full context)

Sybylla and Harold return to the birthday party. Uncle Julius gives Sybylla a doll, which disappoints her, but Julius insists that playing with a doll... (full context)