Nicholas Bulstrode

Nicholas Harriet Bulstrode has built a formidable position in Middlemarch through a combination of business acumen, strategic marriage to the wealthy widow Harriet Bulstrode Fred Vincy, and unwavering religious conviction. As the town's leading banker and a prominent supporter of the new hospital project, he wields considerable influence over local affairs and takes his role as moral arbiter of the community with grim seriousness. His marriage to Harriet Bulstrode has given him entrée into respectable society, though he views even her family connections with a critical eye, particularly when he perceives lapses in moral rigor. He is a devoted supporter of the Evangelical cause and uses his wealth to advance what he believes are righteous works—the hospital, the chapel, various charitable schemes—yet his manner is cold and calculating rather than warm. Harriet Bulstrode has few genuine friendships; those around him respect his position and fear his moral judgments, but few warm to him personally. He maintains strict control over his household and expects absolute compliance with his religious standards, and he regards with particular suspicion anyone whose lifestyle or reputation suggests indulgence or unconventional behavior.