# Hester Dethridge — Man and Wife character guide > Hester Dethridge in Man and Wife by Wilkie Collins. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Dethridge **First appearance:** 0002-i-the-villa-at-hampstead ## Snapshot A mute servant who writes her warnings on a slate, Hester Dethridge watches her master's household with the terrible clarity of someone who has already survived one ruin. ## Who they are Hester Dethridge moves through the house as a silent witness, her slate carrying blunt warnings that Anne cannot afford to ignore. She has known Geoffrey's kind of violence before, and her dread is not nervousness but recognition. Her mute vigilance gives the novel its coldest barometer of danger, turning domestic service into something close to prophecy. ## Relationships ### [Geoffrey Delamayn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters/geoffrey_delamayn) _psychological_ Geoffrey psychologically torments and exploits Hester, who is his mute, abused servant and victim. ### [Sir Patrick Lundie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters/sir_patrick_lundie) _professional_ Sir Patrick employs Hester as a servant, and he treats her with unusual kindness and respect. ### [Sir Patrick Lundie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters/sir_patrick_lundie) _professional_ Sir Patrick employs Hester as a servant, and he treats her with unusual kindness and respect. ### [Geoffrey Delamayn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters/geoffrey_delamayn) _psychological_ Geoffrey psychologically torments and exploits Hester, who is his mute, abused servant and victim. ### [Geoffrey Delamayn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters/geoffrey_delamayn) _psychological_ Geoffrey psychologically torments and exploits Hester, who is his mute, abused servant and victim. ## In the story ### [VIII: The Scandal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/viii-the-scandal) Dismissed by Lady Lundie for answering Blanche's questions about Anne, remains stoic and unresponsive. ### [XXI: Done!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xxi-done) Reported by the butler as having 'broken out again,' looking troubled and worn; Lady Lundie threatens to dismiss her. ### [XXII: Gone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xxii-gone) Enters the library, observes Anne's condition, writes cryptic messages on her slate, and leaves the house shortly after. ### [XLIV: The Letter and the Law](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xliv-the-letter-and-the-law) The mute landlady at Fulham who lets lodgings to Geoffrey's trainer; shows a hard, watchful demeanor. ### [XLVIII: The Place](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xlviii-the-place) The owner of Salt Patch, a widow who lets lodgings despite her income, living in isolation. ### [XLIX: The Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xlix-the-night) Serves as a witness to Geoffrey's declaration, shows Anne to her room, and warns her that Geoffrey will try her. ### [The Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/l-the-morning) Observes Geoffrey's behavior, warns Anne via slate about the locked gate, Geoffrey's letter to Mrs. Glenarm, and his drinking. ### [LII: The Apparition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/lii-the-apparition) Wakes from bad dreams, comforts Anne, and frightens Geoffrey; resolves to make him leave the cottage. ### [LIII: What Had Happened in the Hours of Darkness?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/liii-what-had-happened-in-the-hours-of-darkness) Appears dull and lifeless, gives Geoffrey notice to quit, goes out for the day, and later falls asleep in the parlor with a hidden confession. ### [The Manuscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/liv-the-manuscript) Narrator of the manuscript; describes her marriage, abuse, and despair. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/i) Author of the confession; reveals her married life and suffering. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/ii) Narrates her own story, describing her family background and marriage. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/iii) Narrator of the chapter; describes her marriage and her husband's alcoholism. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/iv) The narrator and protagonist, reflecting on her husband's alcoholism and abuse. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/v) The narrator of the chapter, a married woman who tries to stop her husband from selling her furniture. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/vi) Narrates her own story of suffering and resilience under an abusive husband. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/vii) Narrates her own story of suffering and temptation. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/viii) Narrates her own story of suffering and resilience after being assaulted by her husband. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/ix) Narrates her husband's return and her growing certainty that she will kill him. ### [Hester Dethridge's Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/x) Narrator of the chapter, detailing her psychological state and the murder of her husband. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xi) Narrates the chapter, describing her actions and feelings after her husband's death and her decision to become mute. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/xii) Her written confession describes her first vision of a doppelgänger and the homicidal urge it inspires; she wakes to find her manuscript taken. ### [LV: The Signs of the End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/lv-the-signs-of-the-end) Engages in mysterious activities with Geoffrey at night; appears terrified; later brings building materials and grants the servant an unexpected holiday. ### [LVI: The Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/lvi-the-means) Dumb and blind to Geoffrey, she reluctantly agrees to his demands in exchange for her confession. ### [LVII: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/lvii-the-end) Assists Geoffrey in the murder plot by revealing the hole in the wall, but is overcome by a vision of the Apparition and attacks Geoffrey, strangling him after he suffers a stroke. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as confined for life in an asylum, unconscious and incapable of memory, expected to live for years. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters/hester_dethridge - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/man_and_wife_se/characters