Sebastian Flyte
Encyclopedia
Lord Sebastian Flyte is a fictional character
from the Evelyn Waugh
novel Brideshead Revisited
.
ic Flyte family, which is portrayed as symbolic of the decline of the English nobility in the 1920s and 1930s.
Lord Sebastian Flyte's first appearance in the novel is dated June 1923, when he takes his friend Charles Ryder on a picnic to visit his family home, Brideshead, and his childhood nanny. The novel then returns to their first meeting in March 1923. Charles is an undergraduate at an unnamed college of the University of Oxford
, often thought to be Hertford college
. Sebastian, a student at Christ Church, Oxford
, vomits through a window of Charles's ground-floor rooms. The next day, he sends flowers to apologise and invites Charles to lunch with him. The two young men become close friends, and Sebastian introduces Charles to his hedonistic college friends. Despite Sebastian's initial reluctance, Charles eventually meets the rest of the family; his self-exiled father, Lord Marchmain (a former Anglican who converted to Roman Catholicism for his marriage), his mother, Lady Marchmain, his two sisters, Lady Julia and Lady Cordelia, and elder brother, "Bridey," the Earl of Brideshead.
Despite efforts by Sebastian's manipulative mother to contain his alcoholism
, he soon drifts away from his family and descends into a dissolute and drunken life abroad. When it becomes apparent that Lady Marchmain is extremely ill, Charles is contacted once again by the Flyte family and asked to find his old friend and bring him home. Charles discovers Sebastian in Fez, Morocco, though he is now an irrecoverable alcoholic, and Charles is forced to return to England alone.
Cara, Lord Marchmain's mistress, specifically describes the nature of Charles and Sebastian's relationship. In Chapter 4 of the novel she comments on "...these romantic friendship
s of the English
and the Germans [in late adolescence] ... It is better to have that kind of love for another boy than a girl."
It is strongly suggested in the 1981 television series and openly presented in the 2008 film that Sebastian is homosexual. The actual nature of his relationship with Charles is debated. Many people state or observe that Charles and Sebastian love each other but the men themselves say very little about their relationship to others, and nothing to each other - though it could be argued there is no need to say anything.
It is implied that Charles' interest in Julia is drawn from his interest in Sebastian (or vice versa). In a conversation with Julia, Charles states that he married because of "missing Sebastian" and frequently describes Julia as looking like Sebastian. When she enquires about his love for Sebastian, he says, "Oh, yes. He was the forerunner." This prompts Julia to wonder whether she might be "just another forerunner" in Charles' search for love.
Although Sebastian's final fate is not portrayed in Brideshead Revisited, a conversation between Cordelia (Sebastian's younger sister) and Charles informs the reader that Sebastian frequently attempted to become a monk (typically while drunk), and will probably end up dying of alcoholism one night, in front of the monastery.
Sebastian's influence on Charles seems to be considerable - in fact, Charles' original flashback is to an earlier conversation with Sebastian, and Et In Arcadia Ego
(the first part of Brideshead Revisted) consists almost entirely of his relationship with Sebastian. In the later parts of the book, especially as Charles becomes more interested in Julia, Sebastian's influence lessens; however, he is still mentioned in the latter part of the book.
Sebastian, religiously, describes himself as a "half-heathen", although he does identify himself as Catholic to Charles, who frequently asks him why he is Catholic. He states he believes in Catholism because it's "a lovely idea," revealing more of Sebastian's childlike and aesthetic tendencies.
and Alastair Graham, two of Waugh's close friends from his own Oxford days. Sebastian's relationship with his teddy bear Aloysius
is modeled on John Betjeman
, a contemporary of Waugh's and future Poet Laureate, who famously brought his teddy bear, Archibald Ormsby-Gore
, to Oxford with him.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
novel Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited, The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a novel by English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945. Waugh wrote that the novel "deals with what is theologically termed 'the operation of Grace', that is to say, the unmerited and unilateral act of love by...
.
Character
Sebastian is the younger son and second eldest child of the Marquess of Marchmain and a member of the aristocratAristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
ic Flyte family, which is portrayed as symbolic of the decline of the English nobility in the 1920s and 1930s.
Lord Sebastian Flyte's first appearance in the novel is dated June 1923, when he takes his friend Charles Ryder on a picnic to visit his family home, Brideshead, and his childhood nanny. The novel then returns to their first meeting in March 1923. Charles is an undergraduate at an unnamed college of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, often thought to be Hertford college
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
. Sebastian, a student at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, vomits through a window of Charles's ground-floor rooms. The next day, he sends flowers to apologise and invites Charles to lunch with him. The two young men become close friends, and Sebastian introduces Charles to his hedonistic college friends. Despite Sebastian's initial reluctance, Charles eventually meets the rest of the family; his self-exiled father, Lord Marchmain (a former Anglican who converted to Roman Catholicism for his marriage), his mother, Lady Marchmain, his two sisters, Lady Julia and Lady Cordelia, and elder brother, "Bridey," the Earl of Brideshead.
Despite efforts by Sebastian's manipulative mother to contain his alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, he soon drifts away from his family and descends into a dissolute and drunken life abroad. When it becomes apparent that Lady Marchmain is extremely ill, Charles is contacted once again by the Flyte family and asked to find his old friend and bring him home. Charles discovers Sebastian in Fez, Morocco, though he is now an irrecoverable alcoholic, and Charles is forced to return to England alone.
Cara, Lord Marchmain's mistress, specifically describes the nature of Charles and Sebastian's relationship. In Chapter 4 of the novel she comments on "...these romantic friendship
Romantic friendship
The term romantic friendship refers to both very close but non-sexual relationship and at times physical relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in modern Western societies, and may include for example holding hands, cuddling,...
s of the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and the Germans [in late adolescence] ... It is better to have that kind of love for another boy than a girl."
It is strongly suggested in the 1981 television series and openly presented in the 2008 film that Sebastian is homosexual. The actual nature of his relationship with Charles is debated. Many people state or observe that Charles and Sebastian love each other but the men themselves say very little about their relationship to others, and nothing to each other - though it could be argued there is no need to say anything.
It is implied that Charles' interest in Julia is drawn from his interest in Sebastian (or vice versa). In a conversation with Julia, Charles states that he married because of "missing Sebastian" and frequently describes Julia as looking like Sebastian. When she enquires about his love for Sebastian, he says, "Oh, yes. He was the forerunner." This prompts Julia to wonder whether she might be "just another forerunner" in Charles' search for love.
Although Sebastian's final fate is not portrayed in Brideshead Revisited, a conversation between Cordelia (Sebastian's younger sister) and Charles informs the reader that Sebastian frequently attempted to become a monk (typically while drunk), and will probably end up dying of alcoholism one night, in front of the monastery.
Sebastian's influence on Charles seems to be considerable - in fact, Charles' original flashback is to an earlier conversation with Sebastian, and Et In Arcadia Ego
Et in Arcadia ego
"Et in Arcadia ego" is a Latin phrase that most famously appears as the title of two paintings by Nicolas Poussin . They are pastoral paintings depicting idealized shepherds from classical antiquity, clustering around an austere tomb...
(the first part of Brideshead Revisted) consists almost entirely of his relationship with Sebastian. In the later parts of the book, especially as Charles becomes more interested in Julia, Sebastian's influence lessens; however, he is still mentioned in the latter part of the book.
Sebastian, religiously, describes himself as a "half-heathen", although he does identify himself as Catholic to Charles, who frequently asks him why he is Catholic. He states he believes in Catholism because it's "a lovely idea," revealing more of Sebastian's childlike and aesthetic tendencies.
Inspiration for character
It has been suggested that Waugh based the character of Lord Sebastian Flyte on Hugh Patrick LygonHugh Patrick Lygon
Hugh Patrick Lygon was the son of William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp, and is often believed to be the inspiration for Lord Sebastian Flyte in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited. He was a friend of Waugh's at Oxford Hugh Patrick Lygon (2 November 1904 – 19 August 1936 Rothenburg, Bavaria) was the...
and Alastair Graham, two of Waugh's close friends from his own Oxford days. Sebastian's relationship with his teddy bear Aloysius
Aloysius (Waugh)
Aloysius is Lord Sebastian Flyte's teddy bear in Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited .The model for Aloysius was Archibald Ormsby-Gore, the beloved teddy bear of John Betjeman, Waugh's friend at Oxford....
is modeled on John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
, a contemporary of Waugh's and future Poet Laureate, who famously brought his teddy bear, Archibald Ormsby-Gore
Archibald Ormsby-Gore
Archibald Ormsby-Gore, better known as Archie, was the teddy-bear of English poet laureate John Betjeman. Together with an elephant known as Jumbo, he was a lifelong companion of Betjeman's....
, to Oxford with him.
Film portrayals
- Anthony AndrewsAnthony Andrews-Life and career:Andrews was born in London, the son of Geraldine Agnes , a dancer, and Stanley Thomas Andrews, a musical arranger and musical conductor. He grew up in the North Finchley district of London...
portrayed Flyte in the 1981 Granada TelevisionGranada TelevisionGranada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
production of Brideshead RevisitedBrideshead Revisited (TV serial)Brideshead Revisited is a 1981 British television serial produced by Granada Television for broadcast by the ITV network. The teleplay is based on Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited...
. - Ben WhishawBen WhishawBenjamin John "Ben" Whishaw is an English actor who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Whishaw is perhaps best known for his breakthrough role as Hamlet, and his role as the lead character in Tom Tykwer's film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.-Early life:Whishaw was born and raised in...
portrayed the character in the 2008 film version of Brideshead RevisitedBrideshead Revisited (film)Brideshead Revisited is a 2008 British drama film directed by Julian Jarrold. The screenplay by Jeremy Brock and Andrew Davies is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Evelyn Waugh, which previously had been adapted in 1981 as an eleven-episode television serial.-Plot:Although he aspires to...
.