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Mr. Cosgrove
Mrs. Cosgrove is the aristocratic, English wife of Mr. Cosgrove. When she discovers her husband’s series of affairs with his enslaved workers, she is horrified, but mostly out of jealousy, not out of empathy for the enslaved women. She forces her husband to sell the enslaved women with whom he’s had sex, as well as the children that have resulted from those relationships. She declares one of the women, Evelyn, free, then throws her and her newborn twins out of the house, consigning them (she hopes) to a quick death from exposure or hunger in the woods. When she subsequently discovers that Mr. Cosgrove has managed to find and save Evelyn and the babies, she pursues Evelyn as relentlessly as Mr. Trappe pursues the mistress. With the help of her enslaved maid, Lilly, and a mysterious old woman, Mrs. Cosgrove eventually discovers Evelyn’s hiding place and prepares to confront her. But Mr. Cosgrove catches her in the act and, to protect Evelyn, confronts Mrs. Cosgrove. He scares her horse, and it throws her, resulting in devastating injuries. Slowly dying, Mrs. Cosgrove realizes that her jealous rage was wrong, and she asks her husband’s forgiveness, leading to a reconciliation between the two just before her death.
Mrs. Cosgrove Quotes in The Bondwoman’s Narrative
The The Bondwoman’s Narrative quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Cosgrove or refer to Mrs. Cosgrove. 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:
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Chapter 13: A Turn of the Wheel Quotes
Mrs Wheeler’s notoriety extended to her husband, and even me. His affairs were sagely discussed in financial circles. Spectators talked of stocks, and bonds and martgages Even the price of his last year’s cotton crop, the value of this estate in North Carolina, and the number of his slaves was retailed by bar-tenders and post-boys with great satisfaction. Some went so far as to think that political capital might be made of it, and even the nomination of the next President influenced thereby.
Finding themselves the subjects of such unwelcome notoriety they concluded to forsake the capital and remove to their estate. The splendid mansion they occupied having been taken only temporarily could be abandoned at any time. Suddenly and without any previous intimation a certain circle was astounded with the intelligence that the Wheeler’s had gone.
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Chapter 15: Lizzy’s Story Continued Quotes
Did it not occur to her that night when laying down on […] her splendid bed with snowy counterpanes and downy pillows that the poor freed slave with her tender infants had not [sic] where to lay her head? Did she think waking up the next morning […] and preparing to breakfast daintily on soft rich cakes and golden butter, with luscious honey, strawberries melting in cream and the richest beverage that the one she had so unfeelingly dismissed had not a morsel wherewith to satisfy the cravings of nature, or support her strength under the most onerous maternal duty—that of providing nourishment for her offspring. […] Far from it, she only thought, as she expressed it, that “the coast was clear” and exulted over the idea of her husband’s surprise and indignation when he ascertained the fact.
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Mrs Cosgrove was no longer the haughty self-conceited woman, but a gentle, humble lamb-like follower of Christ. This change was not wrought suddenly. It came only after nights and days of tearless mental agony, after deep humiliation of spirit, and bitter supplications. Then gradually and beautifully and calmly as the moon breaking over stormy seas came the light of hope to her mind. It was accompanied by peace and love and gentle […] child-like trust, and though lame and weary and fast losing her hold of time she became happier than ever she had been in the days of her pride, and beauty, and prosperity.
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Mrs. Cosgrove Character Timeline in The Bondwoman’s Narrative
The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Cosgrove appears in The Bondwoman’s Narrative. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 14: Lizzy’s Story
...the master’s death, a man named Mr. Cosgrove became the owner of Lindenhurst. His wife, Mrs. Cosgrove , was a very grand aristocratic lady from England. When a family member’s lengthy illness...
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When Mrs. Cosgrove returned from Europe, Lizzy continues, she started using one of Lindenhurst’s enslaved workers, a girl...
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Finally, Lizzy says, Mrs. Cosgrove summoned Mr. Cosgrove, whom she confronted about the women and children. Cruelly, he told her...
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Lizzy tells Hannah that she doubted Mr. Cosgrove would follow through on his promise to Mrs. Cosgrove —he doted on and spoiled his concubines and illegitimate children too much, she thought. But,...
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Chapter 15: Lizzy’s Story Continued
Lizzy continues her story, telling Hannah that Mrs. Cosgrove remained suspicious even after the sale of the enslaved women and children. She began prowling...
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Mrs. Cosgrove was furious, Lizzy tells Hannah. Upon obtaining Evelyn’s confession that she was Mr. Cosgrove’s favorite...
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...for them. When he returned a few days later, he looked so content that everyone—including Mrs. Cosgrove —assumed that he had found them and hidden them elsewhere. Then he started spending days...
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Lizzy relates how Mrs. Cosgrove mounted her horse and, taking Lilly with her, set out for Rock Glen. But they...
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For some time, Mrs. Cosgrove lingered on, regretful about the course her life had taken. As she drew closer to...
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