# Mrs. Greenow — Can You Forgive Her? character guide > Mrs. Greenow in Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Aunt Greenow, Greenow, the Vavasors Mrs. Greenow **First appearance:** 0006-vii-aunt-greenow ## Snapshot A wealthy widow who mourns her husband with admirable appetite, she keeps two rival suitors circling her table like well-fed pigeons, favoring neither. ## Who they are Mrs. Greenow presides over Yarmouth and later Vavasor Hall as a cheerful, commanding widow whose grief never once interferes with dinner. Her genius lies in perfect evenhandedness: she smiles on farmer Cheesacre and Captain Bellfield with such exact measure that even her maid cannot guess her preference. That balance of flirtation and control makes her a comic counterweight to Alice's agonized earnestness, and her eventual choice will ripple through the cousins' fortunes. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mr_cheesacre) _romantic_ A wealthy but pompous farmer, Mr. Cheesacre aggressively courts the flirtatious widow Mrs. Greenow, competing with Captain Bellfield. ### [Captain Bellfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/captain_bellfield) _romantic_ A charming but penniless fortune hunter, Captain Bellfield successfully woos Mrs. Greenow with flattery and wit, eventually winning her hand. ### [Kate Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/kate_vavasor) _family_ Kate is Mrs. Greenow's niece, and their relationship is marked by Kate's deference and Mrs. Greenow's worldly advice. ### [Alice Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/alice_vavasor) _family_ Alice is Mrs. Greenow's niece, and their relationship is affectionate but marked by Mrs. Greenow's pragmatic views on love and money. ### [Lady Glencora Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/lady_glencora_palliser) _friendship_ Glencora finds a kindred spirit in the vivacious Mrs. Greenow, enjoying her company as a relief from the constraints of high society. ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mr_cheesacre) _romantic_ A wealthy but pompous farmer, Mr. Cheesacre aggressively courts the flirtatious widow Mrs. Greenow, competing with Captain Bellfield. ### [Captain Bellfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/captain_bellfield) _romantic_ A charming but penniless fortune hunter, Captain Bellfield successfully woos Mrs. Greenow with flattery and wit, eventually winning her hand. ### [Kate Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/kate_vavasor) _family_ Kate is Mrs. Greenow's niece, and their relationship is marked by Kate's deference and Mrs. Greenow's worldly advice. ### [Lady Glencora Palliser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/lady_glencora_palliser) _friendship_ Glencora finds a kindred spirit in the vivacious Mrs. Greenow, enjoying her company as a relief from the constraints of high society. ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mr_cheesacre) _romantic_ A wealthy but pompous farmer, Mr. Cheesacre aggressively courts the flirtatious widow Mrs. Greenow, competing with Captain Bellfield. ### [Alice Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/alice_vavasor) _family_ Alice is Mrs. Greenow's niece, and their relationship is affectionate but marked by Mrs. Greenow's pragmatic views on love and money. ### [Alice Vavasor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/alice_vavasor) _family_ Alice is Mrs. Greenow's niece, and their relationship is affectionate but marked by Mrs. Greenow's pragmatic views on love and money. ## In the story ### [George Vavasor, the Wild Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/iv-george-vavasor-the-wild-man) Kate's aunt with whom she is staying in London; the narrator suggests she is the best worth knowing among the Vavasors. ### [Aunt Greenow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/vii-aunt-greenow) A wealthy widow of forty with £40,000, she is determined to enjoy her freedom and manage Kate's social life, despite her recent bereavement. ### [Mr. Cheesacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/viii-mr-cheesacre) Orchestrates the picnic arrangements and skillfully manages the attentions of both Cheesacre and Bellfield. ### [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/ix-the-rivals) The wealthy widow who is the object of both Cheesacre's and Bellfield's attentions; she manages the picnic with authority and gently rebuffs Cheesacre's proposal. ### [Nethercoats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/x-nethercoats) Mentioned as being left at Yarmouth with her niece and two sisters. ### [Tribute from Oileymead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xix-tribute-from-oileymead) Hosts Kate in Norwich, receives gifts from Mr. Cheesacre, and manipulates the situation to encourage his attentions. ### [XX: Which Shall It Be?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xx-which-shall-it-be) Receives proposals from both Mr. Cheesacre and Captain Bellfield, but rejects both, citing her recent widowhood. ### [Among the Fells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxxi-among-the-fells) Mentioned in Kate's letter, Mrs. Greenow writes about her suitors Mr. Cheesacre and Captain Bellfield, and invites Kate to return to Norwich. ### [The Inn at Shap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-inn-at-shap) Suggested by Kate as an alternative lender; George dismisses the idea. ### [Mr. Cheesacre's Hospitality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxxix-mr-cheesacre-s-hospitality) The widow being courted by both Cheesacre and Bellfield; she maintains a genial but non-committal stance, enjoying their attentions while keeping her independence. ### [Mrs. Greenow's Little Dinner in the Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xl-mrs-greenow-s-little-dinner-in-the-close) Hosts the dinner, skillfully balancing attention between Cheesacre and Bellfield, rebuffs Cheesacre's proposal but forgives him. ### [Mr. Cheesacre's Disappointment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xlvii-mr-cheesacre-s-disappointment) Resolves to reject Mr. Cheesacre for love, considers Captain Bellfield, and tries to match Cheesacre with Kate Vavasor. ### [LIII: The Last Will of the Old Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/liii-the-last-will-of-the-old-squire) Kate decides to send for her aunt to come to Vavasor Hall, as her presence would not influence the Squire's property decisions. ### [Showing How Alice Was Punished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/liv-showing-how-alice-was-punished) Arrives at Vavasor Hall from Norwich via Manchester, joining the family gathering after the Squire's death. ### [The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lv-the-will) Delighted for Kate's inheritance; treats George's bad humor as grief and remains cheerful. ### [Showing How the Wild Beast Got Himself Back from the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lvii-showing-how-the-wild-beast-got-himself-back-from-the-mountains) Stays at the Hall to care for Kate; speaks of Mr. Cheesacre as a suitor but no longer insists on the match; acknowledges Kate's financial independence. ### [The Rocks and Valleys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxiv-the-rocks-and-valleys) Mistress of Vavasor Hall, she confesses her intention to marry Captain Bellfield, citing loneliness and a desire to help a poor fellow. ### [LXV: The First Kiss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxv-the-first-kiss) Rejects Mr. Cheesacre's advances, manages the situation with Captain Bellfield, and finalizes wedding plans. ### [From Baden to Lucerne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxix-from-baden-to-lucerne) Mentioned in Kate's letter as buying wedding clothes and planning to marry Captain Bellfield. ### [Showing How George Vavasor Paid a Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxxii-showing-how-george-vavasor-paid-a-visit) Comments on George Vavasor's mysterious disappearance, expressing relief. ### [Mr. Cheesacre's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/lxxviii-mr-cheesacre-s-fate) Orchestrates the match between Mr. Cheesacre and Charlie Fairstairs, while preparing for her own marriage to Captain Bellfield. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters/mrs_greenow - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/characters