# Madame Mantalini — Nicholas Nickleby character guide

> Madame Mantalini in Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Madame, Poor Madame Mantalini

**First appearance:** 0010-viii

## Who they are

A fashionable dressmaker who employs Kate.

## In the story

### [Follows the fortunes of Miss Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xvii)

Hires Kate and introduces her to Miss Knag, while dealing with her husband's flirtatious behavior.

### [Miss Knag, after doting on Kate Nickleby for three whole days, makes up her mind to hate her forevermore. The causes which led Miss Knag to form this resolution.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xviii)

The proprietress who dismisses Kate as awkward and ordinary, but laughs at Miss Knag's sycophantic behavior.

### [Madam Mantalini finds herself in a situation of some difficulty, and Miss Nickleby finds herself in no situation at all.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxi)

Shows signs of worry and irritability due to financial troubles and her husband's behavior; her business ultimately fails, leading to Kate's dismissal.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Madame Mantalini appears unexpectedly, expressing shame at her husband's behavior.

## Links

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- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters