# Aunt Abby — Our Nig character guide

> Aunt Abby in Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** good Aunt Abby, Abby

**First appearance:** 0005-iii-a-new-home-for-me

## Snapshot

A quiet room, a listening ear, and the one steady kindness in Frado's life, Aunt Abby hears what others refuse to and remembers it.

## Who they are

Aunt Abby is the Bellmont household's conscience in a rocking chair, the relative whose quiet room becomes a refuge for both Frado and the ailing James. She listens to Frado's grief in the barn, contradicts the world's contempt for her, and resolves to take the girl home if her health returns. Her confidence and her promises matter because they show Frado, and the reader, that the cruelty around her is not the whole country's opinion.

## Relationships

### [Frado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/frado)

_friendship_

Aunt Abby is a kind, protective ally to Frado, offering comfort and support against the Bellmonts' cruelty.

### [Jim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jim)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.

### [Mrs. Bellmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mrs_bellmont)

_rivalry_

Aunt Abby and Mrs. Bellmont are sisters-in-law who are in constant conflict, with Abby opposing Mrs. Bellmont's cruelty.

### [Susan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/susan)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Susan's sister-in-law, and they share a cordial, supportive relationship.

### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jane)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jane's aunt, and she acts as a maternal figure and protector to Jane.

### [Frado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/frado)

_friendship_

Aunt Abby is a kind, protective ally to Frado, offering comfort and support against the Bellmonts' cruelty.

### [Susan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/susan)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Susan's sister-in-law, and they share a cordial, supportive relationship.

### [Jim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jim)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.

### [Frado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/frado)

_friendship_

Aunt Abby is a kind, protective ally to Frado, offering comfort and support against the Bellmonts' cruelty.

### [Jim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jim)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.

### [Mrs. Bellmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mrs_bellmont)

_rivalry_

Aunt Abby and Mrs. Bellmont are sisters-in-law who are in constant conflict, with Abby opposing Mrs. Bellmont's cruelty.

### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jane)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jane's aunt, and she acts as a maternal figure and protector to Jane.

## In the story

### [IV: A Friend for Nig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/iv-a-friend-for-nig)

Finds Frado hiding, provides her with food, and sympathizes with her plight.

### [Varieties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/vi-varieties)

Provides spiritual guidance and takes Frado to evening meetings.

### [VII: Spiritual Condition of Nig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/vii-spiritual-condition-of-nig)

She converses with James about Frado's spiritual condition and the prejudice against people of color. She expresses hope for Frado's religious sensitivity and wishes she were away from Mrs. Bellmont.

### [Visitor and Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/viii-visitor-and-departure)

Instructs Frado in Christianity, takes her to meetings, and provides comfort and cordial after the beating.

### [IX: Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/ix-death)

Supports Frado spiritually, defies Mrs. Bellmont to visit James, intervenes during Frado's torture.

### [X: Perplexities.—Another Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/x-perplexities-another-death)

Aunt Abby sympathizes with Frado and Mr. Bellmont after Mary's death, but is disturbed by Frado's irreverent questions about Mary's fate.

### [XII: The Winding Up of the Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/xii-the-winding-up-of-the-matter)

Has entered heaven.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/aunt_abby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters