# Aunt Mary — Lay Down Your Arms character guide

> Aunt Mary in Lay Down Your Arms by Bertha von Suttner.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mary, dear Mary, poor Aunt Mary

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Who they are

Martha's kind, traditional aunt, whose domestic wisdom and steady presence anchor the family as its men march off to successive wars.

## Relationships

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Father Radetzky share a warm, supportive friendship based on mutual respect.

### [Martha Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/martha_tilling)

_family_

Aunt Mary is Martha's aunt, providing familial care and advice.

### [Frederick Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/frederick_tilling)

_family_

Aunt Mary is Frederick's aunt, offering maternal guidance and affection.

### [Conrad Althaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/conrad_althaus)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Conrad are friendly acquaintances, sharing a cordial bond.

### [Martha Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/martha_tilling)

_family_

Aunt Mary is Martha's aunt, providing familial care and advice.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Father Radetzky share a warm, supportive friendship based on mutual respect.

### [Frederick Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/frederick_tilling)

_family_

Aunt Mary is Frederick's aunt, offering maternal guidance and affection.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Father Radetzky share a warm, supportive friendship based on mutual respect.

### [Conrad Althaus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/conrad_althaus)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Conrad are friendly acquaintances, sharing a cordial bond.

### [Frederick Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/frederick_tilling)

_family_

Aunt Mary is Frederick's aunt, offering maternal guidance and affection.

## In the story

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

An old canoness who raised Martha and her siblings after their mother's death.

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

Visits Martha to offer religious comfort and preach resignation; embodies traditional piety.

### [First Years of Widowhood—Solitude, Study, Enlarged Views—I Return Into Society—Renewed Enjoyment of Life—Thoughts of Second Marriage—I Chaperon My Younger Sisters—I Am Introduced to Baron Tilling—He Brings Me an Account of the Manner of Arno's Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/iii)

Offers religious consolation to Martha, speaking of Arno's blessed state in Heaven.

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

Softened and touched by the engagement; prays for Martha's happiness.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/vii)

Stays behind to nurse Martha and plans to travel with her to Grumitz.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/viii)

Present at Frederick's surprise return; reacts with shock and joy.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/ix)

Fatalistic aunt; debates with Martha about destiny and war, arguing that those who die in battle were destined to die.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/x)

Removes to Grumitz with Martha's father and sisters.

### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xiii)

Reproaches Martha for speaking of horrors, believes the world is a vale of misery.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xiv)

Present at the deathbed of Martha's father; consoles Martha after his death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/aunt_mary
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters