Little Dorrit · Character

Mrs. Meagles

The kind and motherly wife of Mr. Meagles, devoted to her daughter Pet.

minor

Also known as Mrs. Meagles

Mrs. Meagles's tie to Arthur Clennam is one of the pressures that moves Little Dorrit—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Present with her husband and daughter at the dinner.

In the storyFellow TravellersOpen this moment free

Mrs. Meagles first appears in 0004 ii fellow travellers.

With Arthur Clennam (friendship): Mrs. Meagles is a warm, motherly friend to Arthur, offering him kindness and a sense of family. With Mr. Merdle (social): Mr. Merdle, a wealthy financier, interacts with Mrs. Meagles in high society circles, with underlying financial entanglements. With Fanny Dorrit (social): Fanny interacts with Mrs. Meagles in society, often with snobbery and rivalry over status.

See Mrs. Meagles in Fellow Travellers Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

46 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Meagles sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Social
Other

Character groups

Circumlocution Office and Society
Minor Characters and Background Figures
Protagonist
Financial and Medical Figures

+41 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt represents the story's dramatic climax because it depicts Arthur Clennam’s psychological nadir an…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Arthur Clennam
friendship · positive
Mr. Merdle
social · ambivalent
Fanny Dorrit
social · negative
Arthur Clennam
friendship · positive
Mr. Merdle
social · ambivalent
Arthur Clennam
friendship · positive
Fanny Dorrit
social · negative
Mr. Merdle
social · ambivalent
Fanny Dorrit
social · negative

Arthur Clennam
Mrs. Meagles is a warm, motherly friend to Arthur, offering him kindness and a sense of family.
Mr. Merdle
Mr. Merdle, a wealthy financier, interacts with Mrs. Meagles in high society circles, with underlying financial entanglements.
Fanny Dorrit
Fanny interacts with Mrs. Meagles in society, often with snobbery and rivalry over status.
Arthur Clennam
Mrs. Meagles is a warm, motherly friend to Arthur, offering him kindness and a sense of family.
Mr. Merdle
Mr. Merdle, a wealthy financier, interacts with Mrs. Meagles in high society circles, with underlying financial entanglements.
Arthur Clennam
Mrs. Meagles is a warm, motherly friend to Arthur, offering him kindness and a sense of family.
Fanny Dorrit
Fanny interacts with Mrs. Meagles in society, often with snobbery and rivalry over status.
Mr. Merdle
Mr. Merdle, a wealthy financier, interacts with Mrs. Meagles in high society circles, with underlying financial entanglements.
Fanny Dorrit
Fanny interacts with Mrs. Meagles in society, often with snobbery and rivalry over status.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mrs. Meagles in Fellow Travellers

In the story

Mrs. Meagles appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Fellow Travellers
Present with her husband and daughter at the dinner.
Nobody's Disappearance
Attempts a personal interview with Tattycoram but is denied admission.
The Dowager Mrs. Gowan Is Reminded That "It Never Does"
Present during Mrs. Gowan's call, though largely silent; part of the strained semi-familial relationship.
Appearance and Disappearance
Supports her husband's decision to travel, anxious about Pet's well-being.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mrs. Meagles unlock in the free preview.

See Mrs. Meagles in Fellow Travellers