Mr. Maudsley Character Analysis in The Go-Between

Husband to Mrs. Maudsley and father to Marcus, Denys, and Marian, Mr. Maudsley is a quiet man and plays only a small role in the novel. He exemplifies the quintessentially English attribute of keeping quiet about emotions, and is more inclined to talk about cricket and cigars. One interest he does share with Leo is that of the temperature—the two frequently bump into each other at the outhouse with the thermometer, though their exchanges usually only involve Mr. Maudsley asking if Leo is “having fun.”

Mr. Maudsley Character Timeline in The Go-Between

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Maudsley appears in The Go-Between. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...of guests come and go, with dinners of up to eighteen people. Old Leo remembers Mr. Maudsley and Mrs. Maudsley sitting at either end of the long dining table, the former taking... (full context)

Young Leo sometimes encounters Mr. Maudsley around the grounds, but only ever exchanges a few words with him. He is often... (full context)

...Marcus shows Leo how the instrument works, but tells him not to touch it because Mr. Maudsley likes to do the readings. The reading is eighty-three degrees Fahrenheit. Leo notices that Marcus... (full context)

...Monday, when Lord Trimingham will have arrived, so they can all go to Norwich together. Mr. Maudsley and Denys did not realize Hugh (Lord Trimingham) was coming, thinking that he would be... (full context)

...orderly affair, announced by the ringing of a gong and beginning with prayers read by Mr. Maudsley . Marcus and Leo always attend breakfast, but Marian is frequently absent or arrives halfway... (full context)

...he informs the others of his accident and of Ted’s kindness in bandaging his knee. Mr. Maudsley remarks that he has heard that Ted is a “good-looking chap,” and Trimingham states that... (full context)

...Fahrenheit. He longs for it to reach one hundred. He has a brief exchange with Mr. Maudsley , also looking at the temperature gauge, who asks if Leo is enjoying himself. (full context)

...cricket team. Trimingham believes there are two candidates to be the eleventh player, and asks Mr. Maudsley what he thinks. Mr. Maudsley suggests the men go and discuss it in the smoking... (full context)

...fare much better, and the Hall team finds themselves five wickets down for fifty-six runs. Mr. Maudsley comes on to bat and, though he plays with “no style,” scores well. The Hall... (full context)

...team to win. Ted’s way of playing is more exciting, and Leo contrasts it with Mr. Maudsley ’s more staid and sensible style. Leo feels they represent a conflict between different attitudes... (full context)

Mr. Maudsley gives a speech, praising players from both teams. He makes special mention of Leo: “last,... (full context)

Mr. Maudsley enters the room and tells Trimingham that he should show Leo the pictures on the... (full context)

Trimingham tells Mr. Maudsley that he and Leo had just been talking about Ted. Trimingham says he has been... (full context)

Mr. Maudsley says that Ted wouldn’t “be altogether a loss to the district” because of his womanizing.... (full context)

...stop the boy excitedly, but the telegram is not for Leo; it’s from Marian to Mr. Maudsley , and says she’ll be arriving later than planned tomorrow. Leo realizes that a telegram... (full context)

...on his aunt’s tie, which he thinks is quite “charming.” Trimingham appeals to Marian and Mr. Maudsley for their opinion. Old Leo interjects that he kept his aunt’s tie for years after. (full context)

As it’s raining outside, Mr. Maudsley orders a carriage to Nannie Robson’s to pick up Marian. Leo blows out the twelve... (full context)

Mr. Maudsley says they will just have to wait for Marian to arrive, but Mrs. Maudsley says... (full context)

...Trimingham (the ninth) married her regardless of her affair and behaved very honorably towards her. Mr. Maudsley , she says, lived to be very old, and often came to see them. (full context)