Wives and Daughters Character Analysis

Molly

Molly is Mr. Gibson’s daughter, Clare’s stepdaughter, and Cynthia’s stepsister. She also eventually marries Roger and thereby becomes Squire Hamley’s daughter-in-law. The novel portrays Molly as kind, honest, forthright, and extraordinarily… read analysis of Molly

Cynthia

Cynthia is Clare’s daughter, Mr. Gibson’s stepdaughter, and Molly’s stepsister. She is briefly engaged to Roger, and she eventually marries Mr. Henderson. The novel establishes Molly and Cynthia as foils… read analysis of Cynthia

Roger

Roger is Squire Hamley and Mrs. Hamley’s son and Osborne’s brother. When Osborne marries Aimée, he also becomes Aimée’s brother-in-law. Roger is also briefly engaged, after a fashion, to Cynthia, and… read analysis of Roger

Mr. Gibson

Mr. Gibson is Molly’s father, Clare’s second husband, and Cynthia’s stepfather. Gibson is the town doctor in Hollingford. Molly has an especially close relationship with Gibson, and she worries that she will… read analysis of Mr. Gibson

Clare

Clare is Mr. Gibson’s second wife, Molly’s stepmother, and Cynthia’s mother. She also previously worked as a governess for the Cumnor family. Clare is one of the titular mothers and daughters of… read analysis of Clare

Squire Hamley

Squire Hamley is Mrs. Hamley’s husband and Osborne and Roger’s father. When Osborne marries Aimée, he also becomes Aimée’s father-in-law, and he becomes Molly’s father-in-law when Roger marries Molly. The novel… read analysis of Squire Hamley

Osborne

Osborne is Squire Hamley and Mrs. Hamley’s son and Roger’s brother. He is also Aimée’s husband. Osborne’s parents consider him brilliant and are convinced that, after he graduates from Cambridge, he’ll have… read analysis of Osborne

Mrs. Hamley

Mrs. Hamley is Squire Hamley’s wife and Osborne and Roger’s mother. When Osborne marries Aimée, she also becomes Aimée’s mother-in-law (though Mrs. Hamley never knows about the marriage before her death). Molly… read analysis of Mrs. Hamley

Preston

Preston is the novel’s principal antagonist. He is the Cumnor family’s land agent, meaning he is in charge of managing the Cumnors’ properties. Preston claims that he is engaged to Cynthia, but that engagement… read analysis of Preston

Lady Harriet

Lady Harriet is Lord Cumnor and Lady Cumnor’s daughter. She is also Lord Hollingford’s sister. Harriet takes a liking to Molly, whom she views as an embodiment of truth and honesty. Harriet… read analysis of Lady Harriet

Aimée

Aimée is Osborne’s wife. Osborne keeps the marriage a secret because he knows that his father, Squire Hamley, would not approve of the marriage because Aimée is a former servant, not someone from… read analysis of Aimée

Lady Cumnor

Lady Cumnor is Lord Cumnor’s wife and Lord Hollingford and Lady Harriet’s mother. Clare used to work for Lady Cumnor and the Cumnor family as a governess. Lady Cumnor is the matriarch of… read analysis of Lady Cumnor

Dr. Nicholls

Dr. Nicholls is a respected doctor whom Mr. Gibson knows and sometimes consults for difficult cases, including Osborne’s illness. While Gibson believes Osborne has a fatal illness, Dr. Nicholls believes the illness will prove… read analysis of Dr. Nicholls

Mr. Kirkpatrick

Mr. Kirkpatrick is the brother of Clare’s first husband, which makes him Cynthia’s uncle. He is also Helen’s father. Mr. Kirkpatrick lives in London and is fond of Cynthia, which leads him… read analysis of Mr. Kirkpatrick

Minor Characters

Miss Browning

Miss Browning is Miss Phoebe’s sister. The two of them are close with Molly and are neighbors with the Gibson family. When rumors spread that Molly is romantically involved with Preston, Miss Browning finds the rumors hard to refute and ends up believing them.

Miss Phoebe

Miss Phoebe is Miss Browning’s sister. The two of them are the Gibsons’ neighbors, and they are close with Molly. When rumors circulate that Molly is romantically involved with Preston, Miss Phoebe claims she doesn’t believe those rumors. Still, she helps spread those rumors, if perhaps unwittingly.

Lord Cumnor

Lord Cumnor is Lady Cumnor’s husband and Lord Hollingford and Lady Harriet’s father. He is the patriarch of the town’s most powerful and wealthiest family. The novel depicts him as often bumbling and befuddled, but at his core he is a well-meaning and benevolent man.

Lord Hollingford

Lord Hollingford is Lord Cumnor and Lady Cumnor’s son. He is Lady Harriet’s brother and is friends with Mr. Gibson. Lord Hollingford is also responsible for arranging for Roger to go on his two-year scientific expedition.

Mr. Coxe

Mr. Coxe is an apprentice to Mr. Gibson and is learning to practice medicine. Coxe develops feelings for Molly, which leads Mr. Gibson to send Molly to stay with the Hamleys.

Mr. Henderson

Mr. Henderson is a law student who knows Mr. Kirkpatrick and the Kirkpatrick family in London. Cynthia meets Henderson on her visits to London, and the two later become engaged and marry.

Betty

Betty is a servant in the Gibsons’ house whom Molly has known for almost her entire life. Mr. Gibson ends up dismissing Betty after Betty and Clare clash. Betty’s dismissal greatly upsets Molly.

Aimée and Osborne’s Child

Aimée and Osborne have one child together, a son. He is Squire Hamley’s grandson and Roger’s nephew.

Bethia

Bethia is a servant in the Gibsons’ house. Mr. Gibson fires her and finds her a new placement after she helps Mr. Coxe try to pass a love letter to Molly.

Jenny

Jenny is the cook at the Gibsons’ house. She becomes angry after Mr. Gibson dismisses Bethia for Bethia’s role in helping Mr. Coxe try to pass a love letter to Molly.

Mary Pearson

Mary Pearson was Molly’s mother and Mr. Gibson’s first wife, who died when Molly was three years old.

Helen

Helen is Mr. Kirkpatrick’s daughter and Cynthia’s cousin with whom Cynthia often corresponds.

Mrs. Goodenough

Mrs. Goodenough is one of the Gibsons’ neighbors in Hollingford. She is responsible for starting the rumor that Molly is involved with Preston.

Mr. Hall

Mr. Hall was the doctor in Hollingford who first invited Mr. Gibson to come to practice in Hollingford. Gibson replaced Hall as the town doctor when Hall retired.

Miss Eyre

Miss Eyre is Molly’s governess while Molly is growing up.