# Mrs. Oliphant — National Avenue character guide

> Mrs. Oliphant in National Avenue by Booth Tarkington.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0001-national-avenue

## Who they are

The mother of Dan and Harlan, a quiet presence in the Oliphant household.

## In the story

### [National Avenue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/national-avenue)

Dan's mother, shares her disapproval of Lena and the marriage.

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

Dan's mother, tearful and supportive but cautious about judging Lena from a photograph.

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

Dan's mother scolds him about his unkempt appearance and urges him to reform.

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

Anxious about Dan's celebration, she asks Harlan to go to Martha's to prevent Dan from embarrassing himself.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xv)

Mrs. Oliphant hosts the family dinner and is part of the family circle, though she is unaware of the brewing conflict.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvi)

Comforts Dan, advises him to accept Lena's choice of godmother, and gently conveys the family's concern about his financial struggles.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvii)

Receives income from a trust; tries to comfort Dan and insists her mother loved him.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xviii)

Anxiously tries to devise ways to persuade Harlan to help Dan, but her plans are repeatedly thwarted by her husband's realism.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xx)

Returns from welcoming Martha home, tactfully silencing her husband's loud remarks near the library.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxi)

Visits with her husband, praises the carpenter shop, and chides Henry for refusing to shake hands.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxviii)

Hears the commotion and calls up from the hall, asking what is the matter.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxix)

Mrs. Oliphant is crying in the library after hearing about the financial troubles and Lena's departure.

### [The End of Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxx)

Grieves at Dan's bedside and cries out when he dies.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxxi)

Harlan's elderly mother, fragile and nostalgic, sits on the terrace thinking of Dan and longing to see her grandson Henry.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/mrs_oliphant
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters