Narrator

The story’s unnamed narrator is a literary critic and editor from America. His personal and professional literary interests largely center around a renowned, deceased American poet named Jeffrey Aspern. The narrator arrives in Venice to try to obtain love letters that Aspern wrote to his lover, Juliana Bordereau. When the narrator arrives at Juliana’s home, he gives a fake name and says that he wishes to pay for lodging there. He is friendly and charismatic, but he is somewhat disconcerted by the brusque and eccentric Juliana.

As part of his strategy to obtain the letters, the narrator acts friendly towards Juliana’s grand-niece, Tita. The narrator eventually reveals his identity to Tita and attempts to win her over to his cause. However, when Juliana falls ill, the narrator begins to realize the immorality of his entire mission. After Juliana dies, Tita proposes marriage to the narrator...