The Widow’s Might
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Societal Expectations and Female Independence Love vs. Duty Death, Loss, and New Beginnings
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Mrs. McPherson James Ellen Adelaide Mr. McPherson Mr. Frankland
Symbols
All Symbols The Black Veil and Mourning Cloak
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Mood Paradox Pathos Setting Situational Irony Style Tone Verbal Irony
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The Widow’s Might

by

Charlotte Perkins Gilman
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Mr. Frankland Character Analysis

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 to remain independent, acknowledging that it’s within her rights to do so and that she has always been an intelligent and capable woman. On the other hand, he’s just as shocked as her children by her fierce and determined independence, which defies society’s norms for women.

Mr. Frankland Quotes in The Widow’s Might

The The Widow’s Might quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Frankland or refer to Mr. Frankland. 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:
Societal Expectations and Female Independence Theme Icon
).
The Widow’s Might Quotes

“I have no children, Mr. Frankland. I have two daughters and a son. Those two grown persons here, grown up, married, having children of their own—or ought to have—were my children. I did my duty by them, and they did their duty by me—and would yet, no doubt.” The tone changed suddenly. “But they don’t have to. I’m tired of duty.” The little group of listeners looked up, startled.

Related Characters: Mrs. McPherson (speaker), James, Ellen, Adelaide, Mr. Frankland
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Frankland Quotes in The Widow’s Might

The The Widow’s Might quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Frankland or refer to Mr. Frankland. 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:
Societal Expectations and Female Independence Theme Icon
).
The Widow’s Might Quotes

“I have no children, Mr. Frankland. I have two daughters and a son. Those two grown persons here, grown up, married, having children of their own—or ought to have—were my children. I did my duty by them, and they did their duty by me—and would yet, no doubt.” The tone changed suddenly. “But they don’t have to. I’m tired of duty.” The little group of listeners looked up, startled.

Related Characters: Mrs. McPherson (speaker), James, Ellen, Adelaide, Mr. Frankland
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
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