# Gertrude — Clotel character guide

> Gertrude in Clotel by William Wells Brown.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Poor Gertrude

**First appearance:** 0012-ix-the-man-of-honour

## Who they are

Slave woman who suffers under cruel masters.

## Relationships

### [Horatio Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/characters/horatio_green)

_romantic_

Gertrude is Horatio's wife, and their relationship is strained by Horatio's prior involvement with Clotel.

## In the story

### [The Quadroon’s Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/chapters/iv-the-quadroon-s-home)

The wealthy man's daughter who attracts Horatio's attention and becomes a rival to Clotel.

### [VIII: The Separation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/chapters/viii-the-separation)

Horatio's new wife, who becomes suspicious after seeing Clotel and Mary and learns the truth from gossip, leading to a cold change in her demeanor.

### [XV: Today a Mistress, Tomorrow a Slave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/chapters/xv-today-a-mistress-tomorrow-a-slave)

Horatio's wife; demands Clotel and Mary be sold; takes Mary into her home as a servant.

### [Retaliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/chapters/xvii-retaliation)

Feels deceived by Horatio and retaliates by cruelly punishing Mary, forcing her to work in the sun to darken her skin.

### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/chapters/xxvi-the-escape)

Mrs. Green; initially severe, later becomes Mary's friend.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/characters/gertrude
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clotel_se/characters