# Arabella Donn — Jude the Obscure character guide > Arabella Donn in Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Belinda, Arabella, Donn, O Arabella, Bella, Arabella Cartlett, Cartlett, Mrs. Cartlett, Miss Donn **First appearance:** 0001-jude-the-obscure ## Who they are Earthy, calculating Arabella Donn lures Jude into a hasty marriage, then leaves him to pursue her own survival with cheerful pragmatism. ## Relationships ### [Jude Fawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/jude_fawley) _romantic_ Manipulative and carnal relationship initiated by Arabella's deception, leading to marriage and repeated entanglements. ### [Sue Bridehead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/sue_bridehead) _rivalry_ Bitter rivalry over Jude, with Arabella viewing Sue as a pretentious rival and Sue seeing Arabella as coarse. ### [Physician Vilbert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/physician_vilbert) _professional_ Transactional relationship where Arabella uses Vilbert for medical advice and romantic favors. ### [Father Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/father_time) _family_ Neglectful mother-son relationship, with Arabella abandoning the boy and later using him for her own ends. ### [Anny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/anny) _friendship_ Coarse, gossipy friend who enables Arabella's schemes and shares her vulgar worldview. ### [Richard Phillotson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/richard_phillotson) _social_ Brief, opportunistic interactions where Arabella manipulates Phillotson for information about Jude. ### [Jude Fawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/jude_fawley) _romantic_ Manipulative and carnal relationship initiated by Arabella's deception, leading to marriage and repeated entanglements. ### [Jude Fawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/jude_fawley) _romantic_ Manipulative and carnal relationship initiated by Arabella's deception, leading to marriage and repeated entanglements. ### [Sue Bridehead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/sue_bridehead) _rivalry_ Bitter rivalry over Jude, with Arabella viewing Sue as a pretentious rival and Sue seeing Arabella as coarse. ### [Sue Bridehead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/sue_bridehead) _rivalry_ Bitter rivalry over Jude, with Arabella viewing Sue as a pretentious rival and Sue seeing Arabella as coarse. ### [Father Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/father_time) _family_ Neglectful mother-son relationship, with Arabella abandoning the boy and later using him for her own ends. ### [Anny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/anny) _friendship_ Coarse, gossipy friend who enables Arabella's schemes and shares her vulgar worldview. ## In the story ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/vi) Arabella is one of three girls washing pig chitterlings by the stream. She throws the offal at Jude to attract his attention, then engages him in conversation, arranging a Sunday meeting. She is described as a 'complete and substantial female animal' and is skilled at producing dimples at will. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/vii) Manipulatively pursues Jude, confiding to friends her determination to marry him and using physical intimacy to secure his attachment. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/viii) Arabella actively pursues Jude, using flirtation and manipulation to create opportunities for intimacy and to secure his interest. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/ix) Arabella manipulates Jude into marriage by feigning pregnancy, later confessing the deception but showing little remorse. ### [The Pig-Killing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/x) Arabella is pragmatic and unsentimental about the pig-killing, prioritizing the meat's value over the animal's suffering. She is revealed to have been put up to tricking Jude into marriage. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/xi) Arabella argues with Jude, throws his books, leaves the house, and later writes to say she is emigrating to Australia with her parents. ### [Jude's Arrival in Christminster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/i) Jude's past marriage to Arabella is mentioned as an interruption to his plans, now behind him. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/ii) Jude recalls his marriage to Arabella as a reason he cannot think of Sue romantically; she is the 'one of her own sex' he is enchained to. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/iv) Referenced as Jude's legal wife, creating a moral barrier to his love for Sue. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/viii) Works as a barmaid in Christminster; reconnects with Jude and proposes they go to Aldbrickham. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/ix) Arabella reveals she is already married to an Australian hotel manager. She parts from Jude and later writes to say she has rejoined her husband. ### [Jude's Spiritual and Emotional Turmoil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/x) Mentioned in Jude's reflections on his lawful abandonment to her society and her Sydney husband. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned by Jude as the reason he claims to have no feelings of love left, having seen her recently. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as having previously stayed with Jude at the inn; she has written to Jude asking for a divorce to marry another man. ### [Part V: At Aldbrickham and Elsewhere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/part-v-at-aldbrickham-and-elsewhere) Reappears, influencing events and reminding Jude of his past. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/i) Jude's divorce from Arabella is also finalized, though he worries about her criminal second marriage being discovered. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/ii) Arabella visits Jude and Sue's home, claiming to be in trouble and seeking Jude's help, though she later reveals she is still involved with another man. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/iii) Arabella remarries Cartlett and writes to Jude revealing the existence of their son, whom she sends to him. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/v) Now Mrs. Cartlett; observes Jude and Sue at the show; purchases a love-philtre from Vilbert; shows jealousy and discontent. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as a reason Sue is reluctant to move to London. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/vii) Now a widow in deep mourning; has become religious after Cartlett's death; encounters Sue and Father Time at the fair. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/viii) Now a widow and chapel member, Arabella struggles with renewed feelings for Jude after seeing Sue at the fair. ### [Part VI: At Christminster Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/part-vi-at-christminster-again) Reappears in Christminster, adding tension and reminding Jude of his past mistakes. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/iii) Visits Jude and Sue, claims Sue is not Jude's wife, and mentions her father's return from Australia. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/iv) Arabella meets Phillotson on the road and informs him that Sue and Jude have separated, that Sue never legally married Jude, and that Sue now considers herself Phillotson's wife. She also mentions that the eldest boy was hers, born in lawful wedlock. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/vi) Appears destitute and manipulative, seeking shelter from Jude and later leading him into drunkenness and back to her father's house. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/vii) Arabella orchestrates the remarriage, using manipulation and social pressure to secure Jude's compliance and revive her status as Mrs. Fawley. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/viii) Arabella is Jude's wife, living with him in lodgings. She resents his illness and his desire to see Sue, but eventually agrees to send for her. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/ix) Meets Jude at the station, scolds him for his recklessness, and accompanies him home. ### [Jude's Decline and Arabella's Schemes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/x) Shows crossness at Jude's incapacity, then indifference; she secretly administers a love-philtre to Physician Vilbert, planning for Jude's likely death. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/chapters/xi) Leaves Jude alone to attend the festivities; returns to find him dead but goes out to enjoy the boat races. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters/arabella_donn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jude_the_obscure_se/characters