# Mrs. Sherwin — Basil character guide

> Mrs. Sherwin in Basil by Wilkie Collins.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Sherwin, Poor Mrs. Sherwin, Mrs. S., Mrs. Sherwin

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-i

## Snapshot

Margaret's wasted, silent mother, a ghostly chaperone whose wordless sorrow and fear of Mannion shadow every evening of Basil's courtship.

## Who they are

Mrs. Sherwin sits in the dim light behind Basil and Margaret, a figure of dumb pain whose own suffering remains a mystery even to her husband and daughter. She shrinks from Mannion's gaze and can never quite explain her dread of him, stammering and looking away whenever Basil presses her. Her mute warning presence lends the North Villa evenings their haunting quality, hinting at secrets the family will not speak.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Sherwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/characters/mr_sherwin)

_family_

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwin are married, but their relationship is distant and formal, with Mrs. Sherwin largely uninvolved in family decisions.

### [Robert Mannion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/characters/robert_mannion)

_psychological_

Mrs. Sherwin is manipulated by Mannion, who uses her naivety and loneliness to gain access to the Sherwin household.

### [Mr. Sherwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/characters/mr_sherwin)

_family_

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwin are married, but their relationship is distant and formal, with Mrs. Sherwin largely uninvolved in family decisions.

### [Robert Mannion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/characters/robert_mannion)

_psychological_

Mrs. Sherwin is manipulated by Mannion, who uses her naivety and loneliness to gain access to the Sherwin household.

## In the story

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-i-xi)

Sits far away from her daughter during Basil's visit, remaining silent and still.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-i-xii)

Sheds tears at the wedding, is rebuked by her husband, and is present at the dinner.

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

Shows a nervous shrinking and awestruck fear in Mannion's presence, displaying a strong dislike for him.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-ii-iii)

Confesses dislike of Mannion but gives confused, stammering replies when questioned.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-ii-iv)

Weak and timid; tries to pacify Margaret.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-ii-v)

Earnestly recommends Basil not to be away longer than he proposed.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-ii-vi)

Speaks out unexpectedly against Margaret going to the party, which is unusual for her. She nods significantly at Basil, seemingly wishing him to join Margaret.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-iii-i)

Margaret's mother, whose warnings Basil now understands as true.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-iii-iv)

On her deathbed, she confesses Margaret's guilt and bears witness to Basil's truth before dying.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-iii-v)

Mannion notes that she was the only one in the family who suspected his intentions from the first, but her suspicions were ignored.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-iii-vi)

Reported by Ralph to be dying, though her husband insists she is only ill.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/characters/mrs_sherwin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/basil_se/characters