Roderick Runcie-Campbell
Roderick is the only son and heir to the estate. Although he is physically weak, he is different from his mother, by being stronger in his belief in equality and justice.
He likes the cone-gatherers and is shocked at his mother’s treatment of them. He acknowledges them with compassion where his mother fails to do so.
Roderick’s journey
Tulloch, the forester notices a look of dedication
on Roderick’s face, and it is a dedication to the Christian values of his grandfather and to goodness - he is portrayed as being a pilgrim.
It falls to Roderick to act as a conscience for his mother – his is the voice that should be in her head - We didn’t treat them fairly
.
His journey to deliver the cake is an attempt to atone for his mother’s sins, but it is notably unsuccessful, as he is prevented from reaching the hut by Duror’s evil presence
.
Roderick climbs the tree in an effort to copy Calum, and to eliminate the class difference. However this has tragic consequences.
His naivety here is apparent. Again it links him to Calum. Roderick’s survival gives the reader hope that perhaps change is possible and that Lady Runcie-Campbell can learn from her different
son.
Roderick's attitude towards the cone-gatherers differs greatly from that of his mother - he is friends with them and dislikes how they are treated by Duror and his mother. Lady Runcie-Campbell cannot understand his compassion.
