# Eliza Gant — Look Homeward, Angel character guide > Eliza Gant in Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Eliza, Eliza, Mrs. Gant, Mrs. Eliza Gant, Eliza E. Gant, Mrs. Eliza E. Gant, Elizabeth, Miss Elizabeth Scragg **First appearance:** 0003-look-homeward-angel ## Snapshot A shrewd, property-hungry mother who turns her family home into a boarding house, keeping one eye on the ledger and the other on her husband's decline. ## Who they are Eliza Gant presides over the Dixieland boarding house, wheedling rent from boarders and snapping at her husband's drunken rages with a tongue honed by years of thrift and grievance. She loves her children fiercely but shows it through acquisition and control, and her refusal to let go of a single dollar or a single son shapes the household's claustrophobia. Her running battle with Gant over money, dignity, and the family's future is the engine of the novel's domestic middle. ## Relationships ### [Eugene Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/eugene_gant) _family_ Eliza is Eugene's mother, a domineering and possessive figure who controls him through her boarding house and financial schemes, creating a deeply ambivalent bond. ### [Ben Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/ben_gant) _family_ Ben and Eliza share a strained mother-son relationship marked by Ben's resentment of her materialism and emotional coldness. ### [Helen Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/helen_gant) _family_ Eliza and Helen have a tense mother-daughter relationship, with Helen often clashing over Eliza's controlling nature and neglect of the family. ### [Steve Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/steve_gant) _family_ Steve is Eliza's eldest son, a ne'er-do-well who frequently clashes with her over money and his irresponsible lifestyle. ### [Sandy Duncan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/sandy_duncan) _social_ Eliza views Sandy as a low-class influence on Eugene, disapproving of their friendship and treating him with suspicion. ### [Luke Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/luke_gant) _family_ Eliza and Luke have a contentious relationship, with Luke often defying her authority and pursuing his own reckless path. ### [Eugene Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/eugene_gant) _family_ Eliza is Eugene's mother, a domineering and possessive figure who controls him through her boarding house and financial schemes, creating a deeply ambivalent bond. ### [Ben Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/ben_gant) _family_ Ben and Eliza share a strained mother-son relationship marked by Ben's resentment of her materialism and emotional coldness. ### [Eugene Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/eugene_gant) _family_ Eliza is Eugene's mother, a domineering and possessive figure who controls him through her boarding house and financial schemes, creating a deeply ambivalent bond. ### [Steve Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/steve_gant) _family_ Steve is Eliza's eldest son, a ne'er-do-well who frequently clashes with her over money and his irresponsible lifestyle. ### [Helen Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/helen_gant) _family_ Eliza and Helen have a tense mother-daughter relationship, with Helen often clashing over Eliza's controlling nature and neglect of the family. ### [Helen Gant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/helen_gant) _family_ Eliza and Helen have a tense mother-daughter relationship, with Helen often clashing over Eliza's controlling nature and neglect of the family. ## In the story ### [Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/look-homeward-angel) Portrayed as a shrewd, property-obsessed woman whose ambition drives the family's material pursuits. ### [The Stonecutter's Legacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-i) Introduced as a brisk, talkative woman who meets Oliver Gant in his stone shop and later brings him to meet her family. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Marries Oliver, bears nine children, endures Oliver's drunken rages, and slowly accumulates property, becoming a woman of property. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-iii) Pregnant with her last child, she begins to design her future life focused on property and financial independence, showing a calm, determined resolve in the face of Oliver's chaos. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-iv) Eugene's mother, who watches over him with a mix of affection and practicality, and interprets events through her superstitious beliefs. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-v) Grieves for Grover, decides to take the family to the St. Louis World's Fair to run a boardinghouse, and weans Eugene. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-vi) Suffers deeply from Grover's death, encysts herself in home and family, slowly heals but retains fear and stubborn recollection. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-vii) Greets Gant at home, engaging in her habitual storytelling and managing the household. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-viii) Reluctantly lets Eugene go to school, weeping at his departure; she sees him as a future scholar and attributes his bookishness to her own reading during pregnancy. ### [The Paradox of Generosity and the Burden of Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-x) Eliza supports the idea of children working for economic independence, seeing it as character-building. She is complicit in Oliver's manipulation, bridling with pleasure at his effect on Eugene. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-xi) Buys Dixieland boardinghouse, moves in with Eugene; struggles to keep servants due to bickering; relies on Helen for help. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-xii) Manages Dixieland during winter, defensively justifying her acceptance of a sickly boarder for money. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-i-xiii) Takes Eugene to Hot Springs and Florida, seeks health and profit, feels hurt by Helen's devotion to Gant. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv) Eliza is shown sleeping in her cluttered room at Dixieland, waking sharply when the negress arrives. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xv) Her inbrooding nature influences Eugene; she has recovered from illnesses, paid off Dixieland, and made extensive renovations. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi) Negotiates with Leonard over tuition, reflecting on her own past as a teacher and her family's poverty. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii) Eliza, now at Dixieland, continues to support Steve secretly, reading his boastful letters to the family and reviving hopes against reason. ### [The Angel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xix) Not directly present, but Gant's thoughts of home and family are implied; Eliza is not mentioned in this chapter. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xx) In excellent health, manages Dixieland with tireless work, grudgingly feeds Gant but resents his presence and tirades. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi) Eliza observes Gant's activities from Dixieland with bitterness, confronts him about his behavior, and reflects on her losses. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii) Complains about Eugene's laziness and gives him random errands at Dixieland, showing her preoccupation with the boardinghouse. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii) Travels to Florida, exploring coastal towns and eventually visiting relatives in Orlando. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi) Reluctantly allows Eugene to go on the trip, gives him money and advice, and weeps at his departure. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii) Hosts the wedding at Dixieland; weeps with Helen after the ceremony; laughs at Helen's complaints about Mrs. Barton's illness. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxviii) Ben's conversations with her are short and scornful; she is part of the family tension. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxix) Eliza visits Helen in Sydney and comments critically on the cost of living. ### [The Moonlit Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxx) Eliza awkwardly interacts with Eugene and Laura on the porch, expressing concern about Eugene staying up late and his interest in girls. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxi) Packs Eugene's trunk, gives him Gant's check, and expresses hurt that he spends little time with her; their farewell is fraught with tears and recrimination. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxii) Her nagging and thrusts at Oliver Gant exacerbate family tensions; she intervenes in the physical fight between Eugene and Ben. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxiii) Mentioned as beetle-wise and involved in blind accretions; her mind is fastened on real-estate and summer trade. ### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxiv) Scolds Eugene and Ben for keeping the house awake, writes a letter to Eugene about family news and illnesses. ### [Chapter XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxv) Clings to false hope, is rejected by Ben when she enters his room, and later breaks down in grief. ### [Chapter XXXVI: The Morning After Ben's Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvi) Straightens Ben's limbs, cuts a lock of his hair, and plans the funeral with Horse Hines; shows grief and a desire for a proper burial. ### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvii) Sits by the fire weaving false memories of the past; pleads with Eugene to stay. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxix) Obsessed with real estate, sells Gant's properties, becomes niggardly, and engages in secretive trading. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters/eliza_gant - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/look_homeward_angel_se/characters