# Mrs. Allen — Northanger Abbey character guide > Mrs. Allen in Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** dear Mrs. Allen, Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Allen **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot Catherine's Bath chaperone, a woman of ample fortune and scant conversation whose chief anxiety is whether a white gown suits the occasion. ## Who they are Mrs. Allen launches Catherine into Bath society less from care for her young companion than from a settled habit of dressing well and going nowhere in particular. Her running commentary on muslin, lace, and the cut of a sleeve supplies Austen's driest comedy, while her cheerful indifference leaves Catherine to navigate the town's social currents alone. That vacancy matters: the girl who must judge Thorpe and the Tilneys for herself becomes the reader's own instrument of discernment. ## Relationships ### [Catherine Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/catherine_morland) _social_ Mrs. Allen acts as Catherine's chaperone in Bath, but her preoccupation with fashion and trivialities makes her a passive and ineffective guardian. ### [Henry Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/henry_tilney) _social_ Henry is politely courteous to Mrs. Allen as a fellow Bath acquaintance, though he finds her vapid. ### [Mrs. Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/mrs_thorpe) _social_ Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe are old acquaintances who enjoy gossiping together in Bath. ### [General Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/general_tilney) _social_ General Tilney cultivates a polite acquaintance with Mrs. Allen only after mistakenly believing Catherine is an heiress. ### [Catherine Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/catherine_morland) _social_ Mrs. Allen acts as Catherine's chaperone in Bath, but her preoccupation with fashion and trivialities makes her a passive and ineffective guardian. ### [Catherine Morland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/catherine_morland) _social_ Mrs. Allen acts as Catherine's chaperone in Bath, but her preoccupation with fashion and trivialities makes her a passive and ineffective guardian. ### [Mrs. Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/mrs_thorpe) _social_ Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe are old acquaintances who enjoy gossiping together in Bath. ### [Henry Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/henry_tilney) _social_ Henry is politely courteous to Mrs. Allen as a fellow Bath acquaintance, though he finds her vapid. ### [General Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/general_tilney) _social_ General Tilney cultivates a polite acquaintance with Mrs. Allen only after mistakenly believing Catherine is an heiress. ### [Henry Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/henry_tilney) _social_ Henry is politely courteous to Mrs. Allen as a fellow Bath acquaintance, though he finds her vapid. ### [Mrs. Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/mrs_thorpe) _social_ Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe are old acquaintances who enjoy gossiping together in Bath. ### [General Tilney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/general_tilney) _social_ General Tilney cultivates a polite acquaintance with Mrs. Allen only after mistakenly believing Catherine is an heiress. ## In the story ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/i) A good-humored woman fond of Catherine; invites her to Bath. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/ii) Catherine's chaperone, a woman of little beauty or accomplishment, whose passion is dress; she is kind but ineffectual in helping Catherine find a dance partner. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/iii) Accompanies Catherine to the Lower Rooms, discusses muslin with Mr. Tilney, and expresses her wish for a numerous acquaintance. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/iv) Reunites with her old schoolfellow Mrs. Thorpe in the Pump Room. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/v) Mrs. Allen is happy with her new acquaintance Mrs. Thorpe and enjoys spending time with her. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/ix) Shows placid indifference to Catherine's plans; provides trivial and unhelpful information about the Tilneys. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xii) Accompanies Catherine to the theatre; her only remark is 'My dear, you tumble my gown.' ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xiv) Supports Catherine at the beginning of the chapter and gives permission for Catherine to dine with the Tilneys. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as one of Catherine's first friends who introduced her to Bath society. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xviii) Mrs. Allen accompanies Catherine in the Pump Room and proposes returning home. ### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/chapters/xxix) Receives Catherine kindly and repeatedly expresses impatience with General Tilney, though her attention wanders to her mended lace. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters/mrs_allen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/northanger_abbey_se/characters