# Mr. Iden — Amaryllis at the Fair character guide > Mr. Iden in Amaryllis at the Fair by Richard Jefferies. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Iden, Mr. and Mrs. Iden, old Iden, Guilty Mrs. Iden, this Mrs. Iden **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot A thick Tory and upholder of the Pamments who voted in their interest for thirty years, yet nurses secret grievances against them and against his own father's grovelling. ## Who they are Iden works his land, draws his quart of ale in the bow window, and trades barbs with his London-born wife about whose family drank away more. He is caught between a father whose money he needs and a pride he will not quite surrender, and he takes a sly, guilty pleasure in Amaryllis's defiance of the old man. His quiet resentments and his dependence on Grandfather Iden's purse set the household's whole economy of flattery and spite in motion. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/i) Shows Amaryllis the daffodil, speaks of his great-uncle Richard, and returns to work in the potato patch. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/ii) Mr. Iden enforces absolute silence at meals, especially dinner, and dominates the conversation with praise of the mutton and potatoes he has personally selected and grown. He is deeply opposed to perfumes and oils. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/iii) Dominates the dinner with his strict eating system, lectures on swede greens and sap, and clashes with his wife over vinegar and pronunciation. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/iv) Reads the newspaper, then feigns sleep while watching mice feed on his trousers; his head has worn a mark on the wainscot over thirty years. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/v) Rests after midday meal, thinks about apples and America, eats a baked apple, and is thumped by Mrs. Iden as he goes to the garden. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as having taught Amaryllis that people seldom look up. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/vii) Talks with a farmer and then with Jack Duck; indecisive about going to the fair. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/viii) Argues with Mrs. Iden about family; proud of his wall and ale; tries to smooth over tensions. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/ix) Mr. Iden enjoys walking barefoot in the dew, which provokes Mrs. Iden's anger. He is portrayed as having great potential unfulfilled. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/x) Mentioned as not coming to visit Grandfather Iden; his absence is noted by the old man. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xi) Amaryllis's beloved father, estranged from Grandfather Iden, harassed by tradesmen for petty debts. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xii) Absent from the dinner; his empty chair is a sign of the gulf between him and his father; sends apples for sauce to Grandfather Iden. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xiii) His empty chair at the dinner table symbolizes the estrangement between him and his father. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as Amaryllis's father; her thoughts of him and her mother's worn-out boots influence her decision to comply temporarily. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xviii) Joins Mrs. Iden in scolding Amaryllis for losing the spade-guinea. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xix) Shows kindness to Amaryllis after the grandfather's letter; secretly resents his father's neglect and insults; dislikes the smell of bloaters. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xx) Continues farm work calmly despite the family's financial troubles and unopened bills. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxi) Works in the rain under a sack, gossips at the stile, but is also a man of deep knowledge and old English taste; Amaryllis values his opinion of her sketch. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxii) Passively endures creditor harassment; briefly attempts to raise money but fails; shows a rare glimpse of his former gentlemanly appearance. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxiii) Tells stories of his youth in the United States and as a sailor; hospitable to guests; treats Jearje kindly with extra provisions. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxiv) Angry and stressed, he scolds Amaryllis for her drawings, calling them 'fool stuff,' and urges her to earn something practical. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxv) Subject of Amaryllis's prayer; she prays for his debts to be paid, his work to lessen, and for him to receive the farm; also appears in Amaryllis's dream fighting the fire. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxvi) Creator of the healing garden and summerhouse; his presence makes things grow. ### [Alere Flamma's Retreat to Coombe Oaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxx) Iden is present in the summerhouse, and his family is noted for brewing famous ale for generations. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxxiii) Comes in for lunch with a gossip, offers to help, is rebuffed by Mrs. Iden. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxxiv) Described through his meticulous gate-building—a symbol of his perfectionist, timeless approach to life, which the neighborhood scorns as foolish. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/characters/mr_iden - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/characters