Northanger Abbey
Captain Frederick Tilney
Henry's older brother
A dashing, vain officer who flirts for sport. He charms Isabella Thorpe and never means to marry her.
Captain Frederick Tilney is twenty-seven, General Tilney's eldest son and Henry's older brother. He is tall, handsome and confident in a scarlet coat, and he is used to flirting with every attractive woman he meets. He treats other people's feelings as a game.
Henry knows him well and is not fooled. Catherine is shocked by what she sees, because she assumes everyone means what they say. He has no wish to settle down and no sense that his charm could do any harm.
In the story
Contains spoilers.
The Captain arrives in Bath and catches Isabella's eye. At an assembly he dances and laughs with her while she is engaged to James, and Henry tells Catherine that Frederick will encourage anyone willing to be encouraged.
He leaves Bath, and Isabella is left with nothing. Henry says Frederick never intended to marry her, and the Captain's careless behavior brings the whole matter to a bad end.
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