Character sketch - Shel, Orlando by Virginia Woolf (0)

Character sketch – Shel
“ Orlando ” – Virginia Woolf
Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire was Orlando ’s second love interest, whom she married . They met in the nineteenth century. Orlando thought that she was dying when she heard Shel approach on his horse . Shel went to help her and basically “swept her off her feet ”. Moments later they got engaged.
After knowing each other for two minutes, Shel and Orlando knew everything important about one another . Shel had a castle in the Hebrides, but it was ruined. He was not that rich and spent his time mostly at the sea. Before meeting Orlando he had been on his way to join his brig, but the wind blew from the wrong direction and he could not continue his journey . He was passionate about his job because he did a little model on the ground of the Cape Horn when Orlando asked about it and told stories that had happened during his travels. At the same time, Shel was afraid of the wind change because it meant he had to choose between the woman he loved and his duty as a seaman .
When Orlando said that she loved Shel, they discovered something at the same time. He comprehended that Orlando was a man and Orlando realized that Shel was a woman. He could not believe that Orlando was a woman because she was „as tolerant and free-spoken as a man“ and Orlando was astonished because Shel was „as strange and subtle as a woman“. Surprisingly their relationship did not get weird after that, on the contrary they got along even better and understood each other perfectly. In Shel, Orlando found someone like her, an individual not defined by his gender . He combines qualities of both genders, and is thus compatible with Orlando.
Orlando thought that Shel’s name suited him because “ there was something romantic and chivalrous, passionate, melancholy, yet determined about him which went with the wild , dark-plumed name.” His full name showed the multi -faceted aspect of his experiences and personality. Orlando chose to call him “Mar” when she was in a dreamy, amorous mood, “Bonthrop” when she was in a solitary mood, and “Shel” when she was in no mood at all. That Shel was a complicated person , made him acceptable as Orlando's husband .
After awhile, the wind changed and it was time for Shel to return to his ship and sail away . However , before that they quickly let the servant wed them . Shel proved his love and went off, and Orlando got a ring that she had wanted . Although Shel was far away, they communicated between each other quite often. Orlando sent him telegraphs about her doings and vice versa.
In the end of the book, it is nicely described how Orlando felt when she saw her husband’s ship sailing towards her. „Oh rash , oh ridiculous man, always sailing, so uselessly, round Cape Horn in the teeth of a gale! But the brig was through the arch and out on the other side; it was safe at last!” Orlando could not wait any longer to see Shel, they were both full of anticipation. Shelmerdine had become a fine sea captain , who was hale , fresh-coloured and alert . He and Orlando were finally united again .
In conclusion , Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire was a seaman, who coincidentally met Orlando and they fell in love soon after. Their relationship was so close and well-working because both of them had qualities of the other gender and they understood each other perfectly. Shel gave Orlando what she had yearned for - love. In my opinion, Shel was an important character in “Orlando” because he helped Orlando fully get over Sasha and offered her unconditional love. Their romantic story made me feel happy for them, it was sweet .