Unamed Narrator
An American editor and literary critic obsessed with Jeffrey Aspern.
Core Belief
"The pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of literary history justify certain moral compromises."
Worldview
The narrator sees the world as a place where intellectual pursuits and personal ambition often clash with ethical considerations. He believes that the ends can sometimes justify the means, especially when it comes to uncovering the truth about great artists. He views himself as a guardian of literary heritage, entitled to access and interpret the lives and works of the past.
Personality
The narrator is ambitious, manipulative, and driven by his desire to uncover the secrets of Jeffrey Aspern's life. He is willing to deceive and intrude upon the lives of others to achieve his goals, though he sometimes experiences pangs of conscience. He also shows a certain intellectual arrogance, viewing himself and his friend Cumnor as the true interpreters of Aspern's genius.
In Their Own Words
"I had taken Mrs. Prest into my confidence; in truth without her I should have made but little advance, for the fruitful idea in the whole business dropped from her friendly lips."
"One doesn’t defend one’s god: one’s god is in himself a defense."
"Hypocrisy, duplicity are my only chance. I am sorry for it, but for Jeffrey Aspern’s sake I would do worse still."
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