# Mrs. Gradgrind — Hard Times character guide

> Mrs. Gradgrind in Hard Times by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mrs. Gradgrind, Gradgrind

**First appearance:** 0001-i-the-one-thing-needful

## Who they are

The sickly, ineffectual wife of Thomas Gradgrind.

## Relationships

### [Louisa Gradgrind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/characters/louisa_gradgrind)

_family_

Louisa has a distant, unloving relationship with her mother, who is emotionally absent and unable to provide maternal care.

### [Louisa Gradgrind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/characters/louisa_gradgrind)

_family_

Louisa has a distant, unloving relationship with her mother, who is emotionally absent and unable to provide maternal care.

## In the story

### [Mr. Bounderby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/chapters/iv-mr-bounderby)

A feeble, passive woman who is easily stunned by facts and offers little resistance to her husband's decisions.

### [VIII: Never Wonder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/chapters/viii-never-wonder)

Scolds Louisa for wondering, citing her poor health and fear of Mr. Gradgrind's disapproval.

### [IX: Sissy's Progress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/chapters/ix-sissy-s-progress)

Mentioned as part of Sissy's difficult environment at Stone Lodge.

### [Father and Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/chapters/xv-father-and-daughter)

Recumbent as usual, she is informed of the engagement and gives a feeble, self-absorbed congratulation, worrying about what to call Bounderby and complaining about her ailments.

### [Hearing the Last of It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/chapters/ix-hearing-the-last-of-it)

Lies dying, confused and feeble; hints that her husband's system has missed something important, but cannot name it.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/characters/mrs_gradgrind
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hard_times_se/characters