Character of Sir Roger de Coverly

Steele shows his skill in characterization in the Spectator’s Club. He is the originator of the character of Sir Roger and Addison developed the character depending on the idea of Steele.

Sir Roger de Coverly is the first member of the Spectator’s Club. He is a gentle man of fifty six of Worcestershire, a non-metropolitan country of England with very strong family history. His great grandfather was the inventor of the famous country-dance which is called after him. He was a baronet. All the people who know the county are familiar with his abilities and qualities. Though a gentleman, he is very singular in his behavior towards others. The singularities of his behavior result from his good sense and good nature. He behaves in an odd manner only when he is sure that people around him are in the wrong. He is often in contradiction to other people but his contradiction does not create home any enemy because of his gentleness.

When Sir Roger is in the town he lives in Soho Square, the center of fashionable life in London. Though he is fifty-six years old, he is a bachelor because he was disappointed in love in his youth. In his youth, he fell in love with a perverse widow. Instead of responding to his love, he was humiliated and frustrated by the widow. Before this tragic affair, Sir Roger was a ‘fine gentleman’. But after being disappointed in love he stopped leading a normal life.

After this tragic affair, he seriously grieved over his frustration for a year and half. He at last controlled himself. But since his miss-fortunate love affair he had been quite different. He never took care of his dress. Now he refused to dress like the gentleman of the day or according to the latest fashion after his disappointment in love. It is also reported that after being disappointment in love, Sir Roger was sexually involved with beggar and gypsy women; but his friends thought that it was nothing but friendly joke. Thus, Sir Roger became a changed man after his disappointment in love, after being rejected by the perverse widow; he began to wear dress in and out of fashion. Here is a humorous dig at the rapidity with which sartorial fashions change.

Sir Roger is great lover of mankind. He keeps a good house both in town and country. He loves other people and is loved by all. Because of the comic aspect of his character, he is loved by other rather than respected. On account of his cheerful nature and informal behavior towards others, he loses the respects of others but gains their affection. Because of his generosity his tenants grow rich, his servants are satisfied with him, all the young women declare their love for him, and all the young men are glad of his company. He acts as a judge at the sitting of the local court. He has also sound knowledge of law.

Thus, Steele’s sketch of the character of Sir Roger is vivid and life-like.