# Aunt Elizabeth Murray — Emily of New Moon character guide > Aunt Elizabeth Murray in Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Elizabeth Murray, The Murray, Elizabeth, a Murray, Aunt Elizabeth Murray, Murray, Whereupon Aunt Elizabeth, Dear Aunt Elizabeth **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-house-in-the-hollow ## Snapshot The iron-willed Murray matriarch of New Moon, whose rigid Calvinist conscience and family pride make her both Emily's fiercest obstacle and strangest guardian. ## Who they are Aunt Elizabeth rules New Moon with a code of duty, dignity, and unbending principle, and she takes Emily in less from love than from Murray obligation. She is genuinely scandalized by Emily's writing, her curses, and her Starr blood, yet she is also a woman of real integrity who would never shirk what she believes is right. Her slow, grudging accommodation to Emily's spirit is one of the novel's quietest and most affecting arcs. ## In the story ### [A Watch in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/ii-a-watch-in-the-night) Aunt Elizabeth is mentioned as one of the Murray siblings living at New Moon Farm, who wore her best black satin to Juliet's funeral. ### [IV: A Family Conclave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/iv-a-family-conclave) Sits stiffly at the funeral and tries to force Emily to view the coffin. ### [Diamond Cut Diamond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/v-diamond-cut-diamond) Aunt Elizabeth presides over the drawing of lots, is chosen as Emily's guardian, and insists on seeing Emily's account book, prompting Emily to burn it. ### [VI: New Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/vi-new-moon) Strict and uncomfortable with the new arrangement, she enforces rules and expects gratitude from Emily. ### [The Book of Yesterday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/vii-the-book-of-yesterday) Scolds Emily for kissing the cat and decides Emily will not go to church due to lack of suitable clothing. ### [Trial by Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/viii-trial-by-fire) Forces Emily to wear a gingham apron and sunbonnet to school, dismisses her request for bangs, and represents the rigid, conformist authority Emily must navigate. ### [A Special Providence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/ix-a-special-providence) Aunt Elizabeth remains distant and disapproving, particularly regarding Emily's emotional expressions and writing. ### [X: Growing Pains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/x-growing-pains) Aunt Elizabeth decides to cut Emily's hair but is frightened by Emily's sudden display of the Murray look. ### [XI: Ilse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xi-ilse) Punishes Emily by locking her in the spare-room, acting out of duty and smothered resentment. ### [The Tansy Patch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xii-the-tansy-patch) Disapproves of Teddy and the visits to the Tansy Patch, but permits them under Dr. Burnley's orders; Emily writes about her sternness and the Murray traditions. ### [XIII: Daughter of Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xiii-daughter-of-eve) Elizabeth grimly recounts confronting Lofty John; she and Laura return to find Emily in a state of crisis. ### [Fancy Fed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xiv-fancy-fed) Aunt Elizabeth forbids keeping the kitten and orders it drowned; she is cowed into submission when Emily displays the Murray look. ### [XV: Various Tragedies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xv-various-tragedies) Aunt Elizabeth initially opposes hiring Perry due to his past mischief but relents after Cousin Jimmy insists. She enforces rules about Perry's place in the household. ### [Check for Miss Brownell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xvi-check-for-miss-brownell) Aunt Elizabeth initially sides with Miss Brownell and punishes Emily, but relents after Cousin Jimmy's intervention. ### [Living Epistles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xvii-living-epistles) Grants Emily permission to stay at Ilse's, gives her a dictionary for her birthday, and shows rare praise after Emily bakes a cake. ### [Father Cassidy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xviii-father-cassidy) Aunt Elizabeth is cantankerous and blames Emily for the trouble, having said bitter things to Lofty John that provoked his revenge. ### [Friends Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xix-friends-again) Aunt Elizabeth opens Emily's letter from Father Cassidy and questions her, but is relieved the bush is saved. ### [By Aerial Post](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xx-by-aerial-post) Allows Emily to wear an old dress to support Ilse; wears black satin at Christmas; maintains Murray standards. ### [Romantic but Not Comfortable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxi-romantic-but-not-comfortable) Forbids Emily from reading novels and medical books; disapproves of the bang; arranges for Emily's photograph to be taken. ### [Wyther Grange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxii-wyther-grange) Discusses the visit with Aunt Laura, is skeptical of Great-Aunt Nancy's whims, and later falls ill, preventing her from driving Emily. ### [XXIII: Deals with Ghosts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxiii-deals-with-ghosts) Emily thinks of Aunt Elizabeth longingly during her fright, contrasting the strict but safe environment of New Moon with the eerie Wyther Grange. ### [A Different Kind of Happiness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxiv-a-different-kind-of-happiness) Mentioned critically by Aunt Nancy; Emily defends her honor. ### [The Vow of Emily](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxvii-the-vow-of-emily) Aunt Elizabeth gives Emily her mother's room and sternly warns her about her mother's past disobedience. She disapproves of Emily's emotional expressions. ### [A Weaver of Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxviii-a-weaver-of-dreams) Refuses to let Emily study for the Entrance, insisting she will not become a 'slave to the public,' and reminds Uncle Wallace of what happened to Juliet. ### [XXIX: Sacrilege](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxix-sacrilege) Discovers and reads Emily's private letters, leading to a confrontation; feels both anger and shame. ### [When the Curtain Lifted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxx-when-the-curtain-lifted) Learns fairness toward children; shows affection for Emily; keeps her promise to search the well despite absurdity and pride. ### [XXXI: Emily’s Great Moment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/chapters/xxxi-emily-s-great-moment) Observes Emily's recovery and is polite to Dean Priest despite her dislike of the Priests. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/characters/aunt_elizabeth - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/emily_of_new_moon_se/characters