# Mrs. Danner — Gladiator character guide

> Mrs. Danner in Gladiator by Philip Wylie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Danner

**First appearance:** 0001-gladiator

## Who they are

Matilda Danner rules her Colorado hearth with black silk and rigid piety, until a son arrives who cannot be ruled at all.

## Relationships

### [Hugo Danner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/characters/hugo_danner)

_family_

Mrs. Danner is Hugo's mother, who loves him deeply but struggles to understand the consequences of his superhuman nature.

### [Hugo Danner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/characters/hugo_danner)

_family_

Mrs. Danner is Hugo's mother, who loves him deeply but struggles to understand the consequences of his superhuman nature.

### [Hugo Danner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/characters/hugo_danner)

_family_

Mrs. Danner is Hugo's mother, who loves him deeply but struggles to understand the consequences of his superhuman nature.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/i)

Abednego's stern, religious wife who opposes his experiments as 'wicked' and 'unchristian'; dominates the household but cannot control his laboratory.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/ii)

She announces her pregnancy to Abednego, is unknowingly drugged and injected with the serum, and later gives birth to a son on Christmas morning.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/iii)

Horrified by Hugo's strength, she strikes her husband and tries to conceal the truth from neighbors. She whips Hugo for breaking the sand keg and fabricates a story about a strong ancestor to deflect suspicion.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/iv)

Hugo's mother, who tries to prevent the father-son walk and feels shut out as Hugo grows up.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/v)

Hugo's mother, who grows more silent and reserved, and yields to Hugo's unexpected decision to go to Webster University.

### [The Burden of the Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/xx)

Meets Hugo at the station, unchanged and grim, dressed in mourning black; discusses the money Hugo sent and her use of it for missionaries and church improvements.

### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/xxi)

Grim and uncomprehending after her husband's death; Hugo kisses her goodbye at the station.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/characters/mrs_danner
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gladiator_se/characters