Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader Character Analysis in Middlemarch

Mrs. Cadwallader is a friend of the Brooke family. She is born into a noble family but “married down;” her husband, Mr. Cadwallader, is neither high-ranking nor wealthy. She is a nosy, gossip-prone woman who involves herself in the arrangement of marriages in Middlemarch. She is also very charming and delivers some of the most memorable, cutting lines in the novel.

Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader Quotes in Middlemarch

The Middlemarch quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader or refer to Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

She would never have disowned any one on the ground of poverty… But her feeling towards the vulgar rich was a sort of religious hatred: they had probably made all their money out of high retail prices, and Mrs Cadwallader detested high prices for everything that was not paid in kind at the Rectory: such people were no part of God's design in making the world; and their accent was an affliction to the ears. A town where such monsters abounded was hardly more than a sort of low comedy, which could not be taken account of in a well-bred scheme of the universe.

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Page Number and Citation: 60

Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader Character Timeline in Middlemarch

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader appears in Middlemarch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...make her own decision, even though he knows Sir James will be disappointed and that Mrs. Cadwallader will likely be upset with him for failing to deliver a union between James and... (full context)

...some way. The woman happily chats to the Tipton lodge-keeper about her chickens. The woman, Mrs. Cadwallader , is of “immeasurably high birth” yet claims to be poor and always gossips with... (full context)

Mrs. Cadwallader teases Mr. Brooke and warns him not to get involved with politics. Brooke replies that... (full context)

Mrs. Cadwallader announces that she must immediately tell Sir James the sad news. She says that she... (full context)

...is no better than a mummy!” adding that Casaubon “has one foot in the grave.” Mrs. Cadwallader attempts to cheer him up and suggests that Celia might have been the better match... (full context)

Mrs. Cadwallader lives a simple life but is fascinated by all the details of “the great world,”... (full context)

...make Dorothea happy and that the marriage should be postponed until she is “of age.” Mrs. Cadwallader enters and says that Sir James won’t have any luck convincing her husband, who only... (full context)

Sir James and Mrs. Cadwallader discuss how years of isolated study have spoiled Casaubon’s personality. Mr. Cadwallader says that while... (full context)

Mrs. Cadwallader and Lady Chettam discuss medicines, a favorite topic among those of high social rank. They... (full context)

...reminded others of his superiority and power. At Featherstone’s request, Mr. Cadwallader performs the service. Mrs. Cadwallader has persuaded Sir James and Celia to drive her to Lowick. Against Lydgate’s advice, Casaubon... (full context)

...Dorothea exclaims in horror at the idea that Featherstone was completely unloved when he died. Mrs. Cadwallader notices a stranger among the funeral crowd, a man with “a sort of frog-face.” (full context)

...his dignity, and notes that Ladislaw doesn’t want Brooke to run in the upcoming election. Mrs. Cadwallader thinks Ladislaw is “dangerous” and has radical ideas. Sir James thinks it is regrettable that... (full context)

...James mentions Garth’s farming innovations and Brooke says he doesn’t have the money for that; Mrs. Cadwallader then points out that running for parliament is extremely expensive. Mr. Cadwallader says he thinks... (full context)

...want Dorothea to go back to Lowick, and others such as Sir James’s mother and Mrs. Cadwallader disapprove of Dorothea living alone there. (full context)

Mrs. Cadwallader protests to her husband that Mr. Brooke is being irresponsible by neglecting to bring suitors... (full context)

...love with him. She goes to stay a night at Freshitt on Celia’s request, and Mrs. Cadwallader is invited to dinner. It is hot, and Celia requests that Dorothea take off her... (full context)

Dorothea says that Mrs. Cadwallader is free to have fun speculating, but that she has no intention of marrying again.... (full context)

...usually avoids bringing up this subject with her at all costs. He decides to use Mrs. Cadwallader as a go-between. (full context)

Mrs. Cadwallader tells Dorothea that Will is in Middlemarch and that he is constantly “warbling” with Rosamond.... (full context)

Just after the House of Lords defeats the Reform Bill, Mr. Cadwallader and Mrs. Cadwallader , Sir James, Celia, and Lady Chettam are all sitting outside together discussing politics. Mr.... (full context)

...a wrong, while Mr. Cadwallader says she is just doing something James doesn’t agree with. Mrs. Cadwallader blames the others for not arranging alternative suitors for Dorothea. Mr. Brooke says that he... (full context)

...Cadwallader comments that if Dorothea wants to be poor then her choice must be respected. Mrs. Cadwallader mentions Will’s low rank and “frightful” ancestry, but Mr. Cadwallader calls this “nonsense” and says... (full context)

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Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader Character Analysis

Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader Quotes in Middlemarch

Mrs. Elinor Cadwallader Character Timeline in Middlemarch

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