# Isabella Thorpe — Northanger Abbey character guide > Isabella Thorpe in Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Isabella, Thorpe, Belle **First appearance:** 0004-iii ## Snapshot Catherine's dazzling new friend in Bath, all warmth and flattery on the surface, whose professions of undying affection may not survive the first test of self-interest. ## Who they are Isabella Thorpe sweeps into Catherine's life with breathless declarations of friendship, shared novels, and whispered confidences about her brother's devotion. She is charming, pretty, and entirely self-interested, her effusions of tenderness calibrated to whatever advantage the moment offers. As Catherine's first real friend outside her family, Isabella embodies the peril of mistaking performance for sincerity, and her shifting loyalties drive the novel's early disillusionments. ## Relationships ### [Catherine Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/catherine_morland) _friendship_ Catherine initially idolizes Isabella as a close friend, but Isabella's manipulative and self-serving nature leads to betrayal. ### [Henry Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/henry_tilney) _social_ Henry is politely acquainted with Isabella but sees through her shallow and flirtatious nature, maintaining a cool distance. ### [James Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/james_morland) _romantic_ Isabella feigns love for James to secure a marriage proposal, then callously drops him when a wealthier prospect appears. ### [John Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/john_thorpe) _family_ Isabella and John are siblings who collude in schemes to advance their own interests, though their alliance is self-serving. ### [Mrs. Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/mrs_thorpe) _family_ Mrs. Thorpe indulges Isabella's manipulative behavior and encourages her pursuit of wealthy matches. ### [Catherine Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/catherine_morland) _friendship_ Catherine initially idolizes Isabella as a close friend, but Isabella's manipulative and self-serving nature leads to betrayal. ### [Catherine Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/catherine_morland) _friendship_ Catherine initially idolizes Isabella as a close friend, but Isabella's manipulative and self-serving nature leads to betrayal. ### [John Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/john_thorpe) _family_ Isabella and John are siblings who collude in schemes to advance their own interests, though their alliance is self-serving. ### [Mrs. Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/mrs_thorpe) _family_ Mrs. Thorpe indulges Isabella's manipulative behavior and encourages her pursuit of wealthy matches. ### [James Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/james_morland) _romantic_ Isabella feigns love for James to secure a marriage proposal, then callously drops him when a wealthier prospect appears. ### [Henry Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/henry_tilney) _social_ Henry is politely acquainted with Isabella but sees through her shallow and flirtatious nature, maintaining a cool distance. ### [Henry Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/henry_tilney) _social_ Henry is politely acquainted with Isabella but sees through her shallow and flirtatious nature, maintaining a cool distance. ## In the story ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/iv) Eldest Miss Thorpe, four years older than Catherine, who impresses her with knowledge of fashion and flirtations. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/v) Isabella encourages Catherine's interest in Mr. Tilney and expresses a partiality for clergymen. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/vi) Dominates the conversation with gossip, flattery, and plans for future reading, displaying her manipulative and dramatic nature. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/vii) Flatters Catherine and assures her that John thinks her charming; meets James in Bath. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/viii) Monopolizes Catherine with chatter; insists on dancing again with James despite rules; feigns eagerness to see Henry Tilney but quickly forgets. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/ix) Greets Catherine with exaggerated affection; rides with James in the second carriage. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/x) Whispers with James at the theatre, gushes about Henry Tilney, and discusses her gown. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xi) Arrives with John and James to fetch Catherine for a trip to Bristol. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xiii) Manipulatively urges Catherine to break her promise, uses emotional reproach and feigned tears to try to get her way. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xv) Isabella reveals her engagement to James Morland, expressing dramatic anxiety and later joy. She fantasizes about wealth and social status. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xvi) Criticizes the Tilneys as proud, then dances with Captain Tilney despite earlier refusal; expresses discontent about the delay in her marriage to James. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xviii) Isabella flirts with Captain Tilney while engaged to James, and later tries to persuade Catherine to accept John Thorpe's proposal. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xix) Shows altered manners and flirts with Captain Tilney despite her engagement to James. ### [Chapter XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xxv) Revealed to have deserted James Morland and plans to marry Captain Frederick Tilney. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xxvii) Writes a manipulative letter to Catherine, full of falsehoods and contradictions; her shallow artifice is exposed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/isabella_thorpe - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters