Mrs. McPherson
Mrs. McPherson is the widow of the recently deceased Mr. McPherson and the mother of James, Ellen, and Adelaide. Mrs. McPherson spent most of her adult life—from her early 20s to her…
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James
James is Mrs. and Mr. McPherson’s son and Adelaide and Ellen’s brother. He lives in New York with his wife, Maude, who everyone knows doesn’t like Mrs. McPherson. Like his sisters, James…
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Ellen
Ellen is Mrs. and Mr. McPherson’s daughter and James and Adelaide’s sister. Ellen lives in Cambridge with her husband, Mr. Jennings, and her sickly children who demand a lot of her…
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Adelaide
Adelaide is Mrs. and Mr. McPherson’s daughter and James and Ellen’s sister. Adelaide lives in Pittsburg with her husband, Mr. Oswald, who is well-off but unwilling to financially support Mrs. McPherson…
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Mr. McPherson
Mr. McPherson is Mrs. McPherson’s late husband and James, Ellen, and Adelaide’s father. Before he passed, he signed his properties over to his wife for safekeeping. This means that his will—which…
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Mr. Frankland
Mr. Frankland is the lawyer tasked with carrying out Mr. McPherson’s will. He finds himself caught between the McPherson siblings and their mother. On the one hand, he defends Mrs. McPherson and her desire…
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Minor Characters
Maude
Maud is James’s wife, who everyone knows doesn’t like his mother, Mrs. McPherson. She isn’t willing to leave their home in New York to accompany James to the funeral.
Mr. Jennings
Mr. Jennings is Ellen’s husband.
Mr. Oswald
Mr. Oswald is Adelaide’s husband.
