# Mrs. Bellmont — Our Nig character guide

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

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mrs. B., the indignant Mrs. B.

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

## Snapshot

The Bellmonts' vixen mistress, Mrs. B. rules her kitchen with rawhide and kicks, finding in Frado a target for every ill temper.

## Who they are

Mrs. Bellmont controls the household through fear, and Frado's body and time belong to her absolutely. Her cruelty is methodical and self-justifying, yet her grief over Mary's death briefly stills the house before the old tempests return. Her tyranny forces Frado to learn defiance and endurance, making her the novel's central antagonist.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Mrs. Bellmont is Frado's cruel mistress and primary antagonist, subjecting her to relentless abuse.

### [Aunt Abby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/aunt_abby)

_rivalry_

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

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

_social_

Jim and Mrs. Bellmont are acquaintances, with Mrs. Bellmont taking in Frado after Jim's death.

### [Jack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jack)

_family_

Jack is Mrs. Bellmont's son, and their relationship is strained due to his sympathy for Frado.

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

_rivalry_

Mrs. Bellmont is Frado's cruel mistress and primary antagonist, subjecting her to relentless abuse.

### [Aunt Abby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/aunt_abby)

_rivalry_

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

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

_social_

Jim and Mrs. Bellmont are acquaintances, with Mrs. Bellmont taking in Frado after Jim's death.

## In the story

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

The harsh mistress of the household who subjects Frado to cruelty and overwork.

### [Mag Smith, My Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/i-mag-smith-my-mother)

Mentioned as someone for whom Mag did a small job, indicating her connection to the Bellmont household.

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

Mrs. Bellmont is described by Mag as a 'she-devil' and is the one who reluctantly agrees to let Frado stay temporarily.

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

Mrs. Bellmont is harsh and arbitrary, insisting on keeping Frado for labor, and physically punishing her without evidence.

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

Beats and kicks Frado, refuses to search for her, and threatens further violence.

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

Furious at Jane's rejection of Henry, blames Aunt Abby, and sells Frado's dog Fido.

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

Returns from Baltimore, continues her cruelty, shaves Frado's curls, and beats her after James's intervention.

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

She whips Frado for weeping over James's illness and forbids her from showing sadness. She is portrayed as unsympathetic and prejudiced.

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

Opposes Frado's religious awakening, beats her brutally, and argues with Mr. Bellmont about Frado's potential conversion.

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

Continues harsh treatment, forbids Aunt Abby from visiting James, tortures Frado with a wedge and rawhide.

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

Mrs. Bellmont forbids Frado from attending religious meetings, threatens to whip her to death, and is shocked when Frado resists. She grieves Mary's death but soon returns to her tyrannical behavior.

### [Marriage Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/xi-marriage-again)

Mrs. Bellmont intercepts Jenny's letters, treats Jenny coldly, and tries to keep Frado from leaving by calling her ungrateful.

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

Becomes more irritable with age and dies in agony.

## Links

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