Character Analysis: Barnaby Yardley
Quick Facts: Hazel's boyfriend, professor of British medieval literature, comes from a wealthy family. First appears when he outbids Hazel at an auction.
Who Is Barnaby Yardley?
Barnaby Yardley is Hazel Mersey Linden's charming and intellectual boyfriend in 1960s London. A professor of British medieval literature, Barnaby offers Hazel a vision of a stable, secure future, a stark contrast to the uncertainties of her past. He is a voice of reason, often attempting to ground Hazel's emotional impulses with logic and scholarly perspective. However, Barnaby's own unresolved grief and trauma create a barrier between them as Hazel delves deeper into the mystery of her sister, Flora Lea Linden.
Personality & Traits
Barnaby is portrayed as a kind, intelligent, and well-meaning man, but his past trauma and rational nature often clash with Hazel's emotional quest. He struggles to fully understand the depth of her obsession with Flora, creating tension in their relationship.
- Kind and Generous: Barnaby demonstrates his generosity early on when he gifts Hazel Virginia Woolf's pen after outbidding her at an auction, stating, "I thought I was buying this for my father’s collection, but instead I was buying it for you."
- Rational and Grounded: As a professor, Barnaby approaches the world with logic and reason. When Hazel discovers the Whisperwood book, he suggests rational explanations, such as coincidence or the "universal unconscious," acting as a foil to Hazel's more intuitive nature.
- Supportive yet Cautious: While he supports Hazel's search for answers about her sister, he is consistently worried about her getting hurt. He cautions her, "The survival of a story is not the same as the survival of your sister," trying to protect her from potential disappointment.
- Haunted by Past Trauma: Barnaby's first marriage ended tragically after the death of his infant child, leading to his wife leaving him. This loss has made him hesitant to fully commit again and colors his perspective on grief. The lingering presence of his ex-wife's belongings in his flat symbolizes his own inability to completely move on from his past.
Character Journey
Barnaby begins as Hazel's loving and supportive partner, offering her a glimpse of a happy and stable future. Their relationship is built on mutual admiration and intellectual connection. However, the discovery of the Whisperwood book creates a rift that widens as Hazel becomes increasingly consumed by her quest. Initially supportive, Barnaby's rational nature clashes with Hazel's emotional drive. He grows frustrated with her impulsive decisions, such as stealing the illustrations and running off to St. Ives to find Harry Aberdeen. His own painful past makes him wary of Hazel's deep dive into her trauma, leading him to issue an ultimatum: choose their planned future or continue her quest. When Hazel chooses the latter, their relationship ends, transforming Barnaby from a supportive partner into a symbol of the life Hazel must leave behind to confront her past.
Key Relationships
- Hazel Mersey Linden: Barnaby is deeply in love with Hazel and offers her a life of stability and intellectual companionship, representing her connection to the present and future. Their relationship is challenged by their different approaches to trauma and the secrets they keep from each other. While he loves her, he cannot fully follow her into the "fairy tale" world of her past, which ultimately proves to be their undoing.
- Maggie (ex-wife): Though she never appears in the story, Barnaby's ex-wife is a significant presence. The trauma of their child's death and her subsequent departure has left Barnaby emotionally scarred and cautious about marriage, symbolized by the boxes of her belongings that still crowd his apartment.
Defining Moments
Barnaby's character is defined by a series of moments that highlight his rational nature, his past trauma, and his ultimately unsuccessful attempt to anchor Hazel to a more conventional life.
- The Sotheby's Auction: Barnaby meets Hazel while outbidding her for Virginia Woolf's pen. His subsequent gesture of gifting it to her is the romantic start of their relationship and a clear indicator of his kindness.
- The Spilled Whiskey: When Barnaby accidentally spills whiskey on the stolen Pauline Baynes illustrations, it heightens the stakes of Hazel's crime. His immediate, panicked reaction is to return them and confess, which contrasts sharply with Hazel's decision to hide them, highlighting their fundamental differences.
- Discovering Harry's Letters: Finding and reading Hazel's secret correspondence with Harry confirms Barnaby's fears about her unresolved past. This moment marks a significant turning point, introducing jealousy and mistrust into their relationship.
- The Ultimatum: On the night they are meant to leave for Paris, Barnaby confronts Hazel about her obsession with Flora and her connection to Harry. He forces her to make a choice, stating, "You must come to me, Hazel. If you want us, come to me. You have a choice to make." This ultimatum leads to their separation.
Essential Quotes
You’re so dramatic. She could hear the words of her love, Barnaby, cloaked in admiration.
This quote encapsulates Barnaby's perception of Hazel as someone prone to emotional outbursts, a trait he both admires and finds challenging. It highlights the fundamental difference in their personalities and approaches to life.
"I thought I was buying this for my father’s collection, but instead I was buying it for you."
This quote, spoken when Barnaby gifts Hazel Virginia Woolf's pen, reveals his generous nature and his immediate connection with her. It marks the beginning of their relationship and foreshadows his desire to provide for her.
"It’s only a book, a fairy tale." "Which one is a fairy tale, Barnaby? The one about finding Flora, or the book by Peggy Andrews? Because either way, it is never, ever only a fairy tale."
This exchange highlights the central conflict between Barnaby's rational worldview and Hazel's belief in the power of stories and the possibility of finding Flora. It underscores their differing perspectives on reality and the importance of imagination.
"Looks like the past didn’t so much come back to haunt you as you went and hunted it down."
This quote reveals Barnaby's frustration with Hazel's obsession with the past and his belief that she is actively seeking out pain. It reflects his own fear of confronting past traumas and his desire to protect Hazel from similar suffering.
"You must come to me, Hazel. If you want us, come to me. You have a choice to make."
This ultimatum represents the breaking point in their relationship. Barnaby is unwilling to accept Hazel's all-consuming quest and demands that she choose between him and her past. It highlights his inability to fully understand and support her journey.