# Mrs. Wortle — Dr. Wortle’s School character guide > Mrs. Wortle in Dr. Wortle’s School by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Poor Mrs. Wortle, dear Mrs. Wortle **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i-dr-wortle ## Snapshot The headmaster's devoted, anxious wife, who worships her husband as a Jupiter on earth while quietly agonizing over her daughter's romantic prospects and the family's social ascent. ## Who they are Daughter of a poor Windsor clergyman, Mrs. Wortle has been raised to comfort and county standing by a husband she adores, and she pours her restless heart into the hope that Mary will marry Lord Carstairs and become a countess. She is a dear, good, Christian, motherly woman who knows she ought not to weigh coronets above her daughter's happiness — and cannot quite stop herself. Her divided loyalties between the Peacockes' trouble and Mary's glittering future make her the novel's most humanly conflicted bystander. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/dr_wortle) _family_ Dr. Wortle and Mrs. Wortle are a devoted married couple, with Mrs. Wortle providing quiet support and moral grounding to her husband. ### [Mr. Peacocke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mr_peacocke) _friendship_ Mrs. Wortle shows kindness and sympathy toward Mr. Peacocke, offering him a friendly ear during his troubles. ### [Lady Anne Clifford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lady_anne_clifford) _social_ Lady Anne Clifford and Mrs. Wortle are acquaintances who share social circles and polite interactions. ### [Lord Carstairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lord_carstairs) _social_ Lord Carstairs is a polite and respectful guest in the Wortle household, interacting with Mrs. Wortle as a hostess. ### [Mary Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mary_wortle) _family_ Mary Wortle and her mother have a close, affectionate mother-daughter relationship. ### [The Bishop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/the_bishop) _social_ Mrs. Wortle interacts with the Bishop in a formal, respectful manner, though she is aware of the tension with her husband. ### [Lord Carstairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lord_carstairs) _social_ Lord Carstairs is a polite and respectful guest in the Wortle household, interacting with Mrs. Wortle as a hostess. ### [Mary Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mary_wortle) _family_ Mary Wortle and her mother have a close, affectionate mother-daughter relationship. ### [Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/dr_wortle) _family_ Dr. Wortle and Mrs. Wortle are a devoted married couple, with Mrs. Wortle providing quiet support and moral grounding to her husband. ### [Mr. Peacocke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mr_peacocke) _friendship_ Mrs. Wortle shows kindness and sympathy toward Mr. Peacocke, offering him a friendly ear during his troubles. ### [Lady Anne Clifford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/lady_anne_clifford) _social_ Lady Anne Clifford and Mrs. Wortle are acquaintances who share social circles and polite interactions. ### [Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/dr_wortle) _family_ Dr. Wortle and Mrs. Wortle are a devoted married couple, with Mrs. Wortle providing quiet support and moral grounding to her husband. ## In the story ### [I: Dr. Wortle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-i-i-dr-wortle) The Doctor's devoted wife, who admires him and relies on their daughter Mary for influence. ### [The New Usher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-new-usher) The doctor's wife, who attempts to befriend Mrs. Peacocke and is present during the cliff accident involving young De Lawle. ### [Lord Carstairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-lord-carstairs) She expresses concern about the potential danger of having the young Lord Carstairs near her daughter Mary, but ultimately defers to the Doctor's judgment. ### [IX: Mrs. Wortle and Mr. Puddicombe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-iii-ix-mrs-wortle-and-mr-puddicombe) Sympathetic but firm in her belief that the Peacockes must leave to avoid scandal. ### [Mr. Peacocke Goes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-iv-x-mr-peacocke-goes) Deeply disturbed by the scandal, she is unable to attend church. She is also worried about the growing attachment between Lord Carstairs and her daughter, Mary. ### [The Bishop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-iv-xi-the-bishop) Receives a visit from Lady Margaret Momson and is made unhappy by her hints about the school's future. ### [I: Mr. Puddicombe’s Boot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-i-mr-puddicombe-s-boot) Listens to her husband's anger and suggests the Peacockes should have separated, but remains supportive. ### [Everybody's Business](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-ii-everybody-s-business) Harbors private suspicions about her husband's conduct, though she remains loyal. ### [III: “Amo in the Cool of the Evening”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-iii-amo-in-the-cool-of-the-evening) Accompanies her husband to London, hoping to mitigate his wrath against the Bishop. ### [IV: “It Is Impossible”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-iv-it-is-impossible) Learns of the proposal from Mary and later informs the Doctor, feeling a mix of anxiety and secret pride at the young lord's interest. ### [VII: “Nobody Has Condemned You Here”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-vii-nobody-has-condemned-you-here) Becomes more assiduous in visiting Mrs. Peacocke and grows to like her. She is deeply moved by Mrs. Peacocke's story and begins to soften her judgment, even suggesting she doesn't know how Mrs. Peacocke could have done otherwise. ### [Lord Bracy's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-vii-lord-bracy-s-letter) Discusses the Peacockes' situation and the possibility of Mary's engagement with Dr. Wortle; expresses initial doubts about Carstairs' youth. ### [X: The Doctor’s Answer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-x-the-doctor-s-answer) Visits Mrs. Peacocke and is torn between her daughter's potential greatness and the fear of a broken engagement. ### [Mr. Peacocke's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-xi-mr-peacocke-s-return) Anxious about Mary's engagement to Lord Carstairs, she frets over potential obstacles and advises Mary while also managing Mrs. Peacocke's travel plans. ### [XII: Mary's Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/chapters/part-v-xii-mary-s-success) Informs Mary of Carstairs' arrival and later discusses the palace dinner, showing her supportive and observant role. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters/mrs_wortle - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dr_wortle_s_school_se/characters