The Return of the Soldier

by

Rebecca West

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Mr. William Grey Character Analysis

William Grey is Margaret’s husband. He is a rather incompetent gardener, inclined to sickness, and has never been very successful at work. However, he appears to love Margaret and to thrive under her protective nurturing; she doesn't love him in return, but she does derive satisfaction and dignity from caring for him. He and Margaret had one child together, Dick, who died at the age of two.
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Mr. William Grey Character Timeline in The Return of the Soldier

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. William Grey appears in The Return of the Soldier. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1 
Social Class, Beauty, and Humanity Theme Icon
...interrupted by the parlourmaid entering with someone’s card—a visitor has arrived. The visitor is “Mrs. William Grey , Mariposa, Ladysmith Road, Wealdstone.” Kitty doesn’t know anyone from Wealdstone, which Jenny describes as... (full context)
Social Class, Beauty, and Humanity Theme Icon
...Island at Bray, where she had helped her father run an inn. She and her husband visited recently and found the telegram waiting for her there. Kitty continues to disbelieve Mrs.... (full context)
Chapter 4
Social Class, Beauty, and Humanity Theme Icon
Women’s Roles Theme Icon
...parlour. Jenny is disgusted by the parlor, which contains a sagging sofa, nostalgic pictures, and Mr. Grey ’s carpet slippers. Outside, Mr. Grey himself is digging ineptly in the garden and frequently... (full context)
Social Class, Beauty, and Humanity Theme Icon
Women’s Roles Theme Icon
Mr. Grey comes in from the garden, and Jenny understands from Margaret’s “girlish” tone that she has... (full context)
...mother’s helper, which went poorly for her. Two years later, she began a courtship with Mr. Grey , whom she eventually married. Mr. Grey is an unsuccessful man: he was out of... (full context)