# Lavinia Herbert — A Little Princess character guide

> Lavinia Herbert in A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lavinia

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-a-french-lesson

## Snapshot

The schoolroom's reigning queen, whose vanity curdles into cruelty the moment a richer, cleverer girl outshines her.

## Who they are

Lavinia rules Miss Minchin's pupils through haughty charm until Sara Crewe arrives and effortlessly eclipses her. Her jealousy hardens into petty persecution once Sara is reduced to a servant, giving the school its sharpest portrait of status turned weapon. She matters because she makes Sara's fall social as well as financial — the loss of friends stings as much as the loss of fortune.

## Relationships

### [Sara Crewe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters/sara_crewe)

_rivalry_

Lavinia is Sara's jealous and spiteful classmate who delights in her downfall and taunts her.

### [Sara Crewe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters/sara_crewe)

_rivalry_

Lavinia is Sara's jealous and spiteful classmate who delights in her downfall and taunts her.

### [Sara Crewe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters/sara_crewe)

_rivalry_

Lavinia is Sara's jealous and spiteful classmate who delights in her downfall and taunts her.

## In the story

### [A French Lesson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/ii-a-french-lesson)

Lavinia observes Sara enviously, commenting on her fine clothes and mocking her appearance to her friend Jessie.

### [Ermengarde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/iii-ermengarde)

Lavinia giggles at Ermengarde's poor French pronunciation.

### [Lottie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/iv-lottie)

Lavinia is jealous of Sara's popularity and fine possessions. She mocks Sara's imaginative nature and tries to undermine her.

### [Becky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/v-becky)

Mentioned as envious of Sara's storytelling power, though not directly present in the chapter.

### [The Diamond-Mines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/vi-the-diamond-mines)

Spitefully mocks Sara's diamond-mine stories and her 'princess' pretense, but is unable to find a satisfactory retort.

### [The Diamond-Mines Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/vii-the-diamond-mines-again)

Displays jealousy during the party, snorting at Miss Minchin's speech and making sarcastic remarks about Sara's wealth.

### [In the Attic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/viii-in-the-attic)

Takes Sara's former seat at Miss Minchin's side and comments scornfully on Sara's shabby appearance and changed behavior.

### [Ram Dass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/xi-ram-dass)

Nudges Jessie and watches Sara's confrontation with Miss Minchin with interest.

### [The Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/chapters/xvi-the-visitor)

Lavinia spitefully comments on Sara's appearance and gossips about her, revealing her jealousy and cruelty.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters/lavinia_herbert
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_little_princess_se/characters