# Mr. Bellmont — Our Nig character guide

> Mr. Bellmont in Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Bellmont, Mr. B.

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

## Snapshot

Kind but passive, Mr. Bellmont sees Frado's suffering yet yields to his wife's rule, muttering that women govern the earth and all in it.

## Who they are

Mr. Bellmont is the household's nominal head, but his authority collapses before Mrs. B.'s temper, leaving Frado without real protection. He pities her, and his presence restrains her mistress somewhat, yet he will not intervene decisively. His helplessness exposes how Northern households could shelter cruelty behind a mild patriarch's silence.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Mr. Bellmont is Frado's employer and master, but he is largely passive and fails to protect her from his wife's abuse.

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

_professional_

Mr. Bellmont is Frado's employer and master, but he is largely passive and fails to protect her from his wife's abuse.

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

_professional_

Mr. Bellmont is Frado's employer and master, but he is largely passive and fails to protect her from his wife's abuse.

## In the story

### [Our Nig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/our-nig)

The more passive husband who does little to intervene in his wife's treatment of Frado.

### [II: My Father’s Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/ii-my-father-s-death)

Mr. Bellmont, John, is the son who inherited the homestead; he is aging and most of his children are away from home.

### [III: A New Home for Me](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/iii-a-new-home-for-me)

Mr. Bellmont shows sympathy for Frado and insists she attend school, but often avoids conflict with his wife.

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

Intervenes to stop the beating, confronts his wife, and asserts that Frado shall not be abused if she returns.

### [Departures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/v-departures)

Supports Jane's choice to break her engagement and advises the young men to leave her free.

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

Supports Frado's right to religious practice, but is largely ineffectual against his wife's cruelty.

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

Intervenes to stop Mrs. Bellmont's torture of Frado and confronts his wife.

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

Mr. Bellmont grieves James's death, resolves to seek righteousness, and advises Frado to avoid undeserved punishment. He is unable to protect her fully.

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

Accompanies Mrs. Bellmont to Lewis's home before her death.

## Links

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