# Mrs. Savage — National Avenue character guide

> Mrs. Savage in National Avenue by Booth Tarkington.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** old Mrs. Savage, grandma Savage

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

## Who they are

An elderly neighbor or relative, often mentioned in domestic contexts.

## Relationships

### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant)

_professional_

Dan works for Mrs. Savage, a powerful and manipulative employer who controls much of his fate.

### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant)

_professional_

Harlan is also employed by Mrs. Savage, sharing a tense and exploitative professional relationship.

### [Lena McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan)

_professional_

Lena works for Mrs. Savage, enduring her harsh treatment as a domestic servant.

### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant)

_professional_

Dan works for Mrs. Savage, a powerful and manipulative employer who controls much of his fate.

### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant)

_professional_

Harlan is also employed by Mrs. Savage, sharing a tense and exploitative professional relationship.

### [Lena McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan)

_professional_

Lena works for Mrs. Savage, enduring her harsh treatment as a domestic servant.

### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant)

_professional_

Harlan is also employed by Mrs. Savage, sharing a tense and exploitative professional relationship.

### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant)

_professional_

Dan works for Mrs. Savage, a powerful and manipulative employer who controls much of his fate.

## In the story

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

Dan's grandmother, disapproves of the marriage and expresses her concerns.

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

Grandmother who hosts a dinner and predicts lasting hatred between the brothers after the quarrel.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/iii)

Dan's grandmother, whom he is on his way to visit to share the news of his engagement.

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

Dan's grandmother, who delivers a lengthy warning against marrying a New York girl and mixing 'stocks,' and questions Dan's plans.

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

Dan's grandmother, who reacted negatively to his engagement news earlier.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/vi)

Mentioned as having a 'magnificently healthy prejudice' against Lena McMillan and being furious with Dan.

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

Mentioned indirectly as part of the family's austerity toward Lena, which makes Dan an appealing escape.

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

Makes a dramatic, frail appearance at the reception; publicly touches Lena's rouged cheek and declares 'She's painted!'

### [The Heat of the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/x)

Makes a cutting remark about Lena's 'tantrums' from the hallway, heard by Dan.

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

Referred to by Lena as an outrageous old hag who behaved terribly at their only meeting.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xii)

Bedridden and dying, she speaks vehemently against Lena, predicts the baby's failure, and insists Dan should have married Martha.

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

Mentioned in Martha's letter; Dan's grandmother sends for him to talk, and he visits her bedside.

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

Mentioned as grandma Savage, whose opinion Harlan invokes to criticize Dan's changes to the town.

## Links

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