# Mrs. Davilow — Daniel Deronda character guide > Mrs. Davilow in Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** aunt Davilow, Poor Mrs. Davilow, gentle Mrs. Davilow **First appearance:** 0005-i ## Snapshot Gwendolen's gentle, impoverished mother, whose anxious tenderness and faded respectability make her both a comfort and a quiet reproach to her brilliant, restless daughter. ## Who they are Mrs. Davilow has known better days and now depends on the kindness of relatives and the hope of her daughters' marriages, worrying over Gwendolen with a love that Gwendolen finds both touching and stifling. Her passivity and financial helplessness throw her daughter's ambition into sharp relief, and her presence shadows every calculation Gwendolen makes about marriage and money. She is the tender, powerless center of the family whose fortunes the novel's marriage plot will decide. ## In the story ### [Book I: The Spoiled Child](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/book-i-the-spoiled-child) Gwendolen's mother, who is gentle and somewhat in awe of her daughter, managing the household with limited means. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/ii) Gwendolen's mother, who writes the letter informing Gwendolen of the family's financial ruin and urging her return. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/iii) Gwendolen's mother, anxious about her daughter's opinion of the house, later discusses the expense of a horse with Mr. Gascoigne. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/iv) Gwendolen's mother, depicted as tender and timid, always apologetic toward Gwendolen for the evils brought on by a stepfather. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/vi) Mrs. Davilow is Gwendolen's mother, who offers mild criticism of Gwendolen's dramatic ambitions and prefers to leave horrible things to men. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/vii) Gwendolen's mother, expresses anxiety about the hunt and Rex's injury. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/ix) Mrs. Davilow privately hopes for a brilliant match for Gwendolen but fears her daughter's unpredictable nature. She is wounded by Gwendolen's remark about her upbringing and is comforted afterward. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/x) Gwendolen's mother, present at the meeting, helps facilitate the introduction with Grandcourt. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xi) Present at the party; Gwendolen is deposited by her side after dancing with Klesmer. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xiii) Anxiously observes the courtship, hoping for Gwendolen's happiness but troubled by uncertainty and foreboding. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xiv) Tries to understand Gwendolen's sudden change of heart and is left helpless and miserable. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxi) Gwendolen's mother, who is distressed by the family's financial situation and fears Gwendolen's reaction to the prospect of becoming a governess. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxiii) Anxiously suggests Gwendolen not meet Klesmer alone, but is overruled. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxiv) Tries to comfort Gwendolen and suggests keeping the ornaments; reverses her usual role by attempting to cheer her daughter. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxvi) Anxiously supports Gwendolen, hoping Grandcourt's interest might improve their fortunes, but defers to her daughter's wishes. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxvii) Mrs. Davilow is informed of the engagement and is relieved that their financial troubles are over. ### [Book IV: Gwendolen Gets Her Choice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/book-iv-gwendolen-gets-her-choice) Gwendolen's mother, relieved and hopeful about the advantageous match. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxix) Questions Gwendolen about Deronda and shares gossip about his parentage, causing Gwendolen distress. ### [Chapter XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xxxi) Gwendolen's mother, tearful and anxious at the parting. ### [Chapter XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/xliv) Gwendolen's mother, who is deceived by Gwendolen's acting of satisfaction and is kept at a distance. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/lvii) Expected to follow Sir Hugo, her presence is seen as a comfort and motivation for Gwendolen. ### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/lviii) Receives the telegram about Grandcourt's drowning and prepares to travel to Genoa with Mr. Gascoigne. ### [LXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/lxiv) Gwendolen's mother, who is relieved to have her daughter back but struggles to understand her enigmatic distress. She learns of Grandcourt's will and tries to comfort Gwendolen. ### [LXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/chapters/lxv) Gwendolen's concern for her mother's welfare is central to her dilemma about the inheritance; she wishes to ensure her mother is provided for. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/characters/mrs_davilow - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/daniel_deronda_se/characters