# Mrs. Brodrick — Cousin Henry character guide

> Mrs. Brodrick in Cousin Henry by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the new Mrs. Brodrick

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-isabel-brodrick

## Snapshot

Isabel's stepmother, installed at Hereford with her own children and her own plans, regarding her husband's daughter with cool, practical indifference.

## Who they are

As the second Mrs. Brodrick, she presides over the Hereford household where Isabel is a guest in what was once her own family's home, and she has little patience for a stepdaughter whose sorrows interfere with domestic comfort. Her sympathies lie with her own children's prospects rather than with Isabel's claims on Llanfeare, and she measures the inheritance question in terms of inconvenience. Her coolness sharpens Isabel's isolation, making the girl's vigil over her father's wishes feel lonelier and more urgent.

## In the story

### [Isabel at Hereford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters/xi-isabel-at-hereford)

Isabel's stepmother, who views Isabel's refusal of the legacy as insanity and is hostile toward her.

### [Mr. Owen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters/xii-mr-owen)

Pressures Isabel to accept the inheritance and marry Mr. Owen, arguing it is her duty to relieve her father's financial burden.

### [Again at Hereford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters/xvi-again-at-hereford)

Resents Isabel's presence and expenses, pressures her to accept the smaller legacy and marry Mr. Owen, and complains about the household costs.

### [XXIII: Isabel's Petition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se/chapters/xxiii-isabel-s-petition)

Mrs. Brodrick becomes gracious toward Isabel after learning of her inheritance, noting the difference it makes.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se/characters/mrs_brodrick
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cousin_henry_se/characters