# Mrs. Thornton — A High Wind in Jamaica character guide

> Mrs. Thornton in A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Bas-Thornton, Mrs. Thornton, Consequently Mrs. Thornton, Mr. Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. Bas-Thornton, Thornton

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

A Jamaican planter's wife who weighs her children's playmates by complexion and lets them visit the Fernandezes anyway, for the climate.

## Who they are

Mrs. Thornton presides over the family's tropical life with an eye on appearances, wary of the wild Fernandez children running barefoot like negroes and of a governess whose blood is possibly not pure. She is nonetheless persuaded that the Exeter climate is healthy and that intercourse with other children does her own good, whatever the risk of bad ways. Her cautious, class-bound mothering sets the children on the road that leads to the schooner.

## Relationships

### [Emily Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/emily_thornton)

_family_

Mrs. Thornton is Emily's mother, but their relationship is emotionally distant, with Emily showing little affection or dependence.

### [Mr. Mathias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/mr_mathias)

_professional_

Mr. Mathias interacts with Mrs. Thornton as a ship's officer responsible for her safety, maintaining a formal and respectful tone.

### [Mr. Mathias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/mr_mathias)

_professional_

Mr. Mathias interacts with Mrs. Thornton as a ship's officer responsible for her safety, maintaining a formal and respectful tone.

### [Emily Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/emily_thornton)

_family_

Mrs. Thornton is Emily's mother, but their relationship is emotionally distant, with Emily showing little affection or dependence.

### [Mr. Mathias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/mr_mathias)

_professional_

Mr. Mathias interacts with Mrs. Thornton as a ship's officer responsible for her safety, maintaining a formal and respectful tone.

### [Emily Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/emily_thornton)

_family_

Mrs. Thornton is Emily's mother, but their relationship is emotionally distant, with Emily showing little affection or dependence.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/i)

Briefly appears trying to enforce modesty with a bathing dress, but gives up after Emily nearly drowns.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iii)

In two minds about letting John and Emily visit the Fernandezes, worried they might learn bad ways.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iv)

Worries about Emily's silence, tries to brighten her, and heroically recites Psalms and Sir Walter Scott during the hurricane.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iii)

Receives the letters and struggles with the emotional weight of the news.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii)

Mrs. Thornton meets the children at the station, is overwhelmed with emotion, and becomes distraught when she realizes John is missing.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iii)

Mrs. Thornton teaches the children to thank God for John's noble death and to pray for the pirates' punishment on earth.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/vi)

Mrs. Thornton stays with Emily at the court, hears her catechism lessons, and badgers her about her singsong recitation.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/viii)

Mrs. Thornton accompanies Emily to the school and stays for tea.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/mrs_thornton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters