Eliza Millward Character Analysis in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Flighty, shallow, and seductive, Eliza Millward is Gilbert Markham’s first love interest. She is also the daughter of the Reverend Michael Millward, and sister to Mary. Eliza grows bitterly jealous of Gilbert’s regard for Helen Graham and happily spreads malicious rumors about her rival. In time, she marries a minor tradesman and makes his life a torment.

Eliza Millward Quotes in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

The The Tenant of Wildfell Hall quotes below are all either spoken by Eliza Millward or refer to Eliza Millward. 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:

Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Wordsworth Classics edition of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall published in 2001.

“I would rather admire you from this distance, fair lady, than be the partner of your home.”

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 14

Explanation and Analysis:

You’re not fit to associate with ladies and gentlemen, like us, that have nothing to do but to run snooking about to our neighbours’ houses, peeping into their private corners; and scenting out their secrets, and picking holes in their coats, when we don't find them ready made to our hands—you don’t understand such refined sources of enjoyment.

Related Characters: (speaker), , , ,

Page Number and Citation: 47

Explanation and Analysis:

Eliza Millward Character Timeline in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

The timeline below shows where the character Eliza Millward appears in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...paid a call to the Wilsons, a neighboring family, where she not only ran into Eliza Millward, a lively young woman she thinks would be a good match for Gilbert, but... (full context)

...was a widow, but could learn nothing more than that. The plan, then, is for Eliza, known for her powers of persuasion, to accompany her father on a call to Wildfell... (full context)

...a perfect beauty, contrasting the young woman’s looks with the imperfect, albeit ample, charms of Eliza Millward. After Mrs. Markham leaves the room, she continues to regale Gilbert with details of... (full context)

...is engaged in the same activity as he: namely in sizing up Mrs. Graham. Even Eliza Millward is sneaking glances at the young newcomer. (full context)

Gilbert writes a long description of Eliza Millward for Jack Halford’s benefit. The reverend’s daughter, is, according to Gilbert, more charming than... (full context)

...of Linden-Car’s main inhabitants, Gilbert continues sketching the characters of the churchgoers around him. Mary, Eliza’s sister, is beloved by her father, children, animals, and old people (Gilbert writes), but is... (full context)

...haughty and cold, and Gilbert leaves, angry and dissatisfied and eager for the company of Eliza Millward. (full context)

At the Millward home, Gilbert finds Eliza at work on a piece of embroidery, and her sister Mary mending stockings. Eliza is... (full context)

Everyone that Gilbert introduced Jack to in his first letter—Eliza, Mary, and the Reverend Milward; Jane, Richard, Robert, and Mrs. Wilson; and Mr. Lawrence—have come... (full context)

The party ends with dancing. When Gilbert tries to take Eliza’s hand and lead her on to the floor, however, the reverend announces that it’s time... (full context)

...ashamed to admit that he has started to prefer conversing with Helen to flirting with Eliza, and when he arrives home after a particularly bracing discussion with Helen to find Eliza... (full context)

...serious designs on the women the neighborhood assumes they will marry. Gilbert is disenchanted with Eliza Millward, and Lawrence is obviously indifferent to Jane Wilson. They tease each other briefly about... (full context)

...spring day, while Gilbert is out inspecting his lambs, he runs into Fergus, Rose, and Eliza, who are on their way to Wildfell Hall. Fergus, who’s heard much of Helen but... (full context)

...to see them, and he retreats to a corner with Arthur and Sancho while Rose, Eliza, and Fergus try to draw Helen out. Fergus in particular peppers Helen with questions, trying... (full context)

...is verdant and lovely. The party consists of Gilbert, Fergus, and Rose Markham; Mary and Eliza Millward; Richard Wilson; and Arthur (Jr.) and Helen Graham. Gilbert tried to persuade Mr. Lawrence... (full context)

...merry meal and Gilbert is again happy, even though this time he finds himself near Eliza Millward and separated from Helen Graham, who later leaves the party to paint the sea.... (full context)

...ride with the others in the carriage and he is now in charge of shepherding Eliza home. He picks up on Eliza’s jealousy of Helen, but, instead of being catty or... (full context)

...feels obligated to pay a call on the Millwards, partially because he hopes to let Eliza down easy, and also because the Reverend Millward expects him to visit regularly. Gilbert is... (full context)

...the Markhams invite their friends for a small party, and Gilbert finally discovers the secret Eliza was keeping. He also gets a glimpse of Eliza’s true nature. She toys with him... (full context)

Gilbert finds not Robert but Jane Wilson and Eliza Millward. Eliza, still jealous, asks Gilbert if he has seen Helen Graham lately. Jane begs... (full context)

...character, but it is not in his power to do so. He worries that if Eliza Millward were to know the truth, she would contact Arthur Huntingdon at once and inform... (full context)

...Gilbert lays against Jane. Gilbert informs Frederick that Jane hates Helen, and that she and Eliza Millward worked together to spread the nasty rumors about Frederick and Helen being a couple... (full context)

Gilbert is home with Rose and Fergus one day when Eliza Millward pays a visit to the Markham house. At first she pays lip service to... (full context)

...now living in another vicarage where they are both well loved by the parishioners. Meanwhile, Eliza has married a tradesman, who, Gilbert assumes, is too dumb to realize his misfortune, and... (full context)

...order to satisfy his mother, he’d been paying a call on the Reverend Millward, when Eliza approaches him and asks if she might accompany him on his walk. She would like... (full context)