Henry Gowan is an unhappy man. He rejected his family, who were in a position to help him, but he lacks the qualifications to be promoted by another power. He resents the success of others. He became a careless and idle individual. He wishes to bring the powerful down while promoting the undeserved.
He continuously reminds people that he married beneath his station. He uses this as proof to Minnie that he loves her.
Mr. Blandois accompanied them to Venice and spends a lot of time with Mr. Gowan. Mr. Gowan had been deciding whether he liked or disliked Blandois when they met him in Geneva. Minnie expressed a definite dislike of the man, and so Henry decided to befriend him. He wanted to assert his independence after her father paid his debts. Feeling inferior, he likes impressing Blandois
