# Mary Musgrove — Persuasion character guide

> Mary Musgrove in Persuasion by Jane Austen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mary, Lady Mary Grierson, Old Lady Mary Maclean, Mary M⸺.

**First appearance:** 0004-v

## Snapshot

Anne's youngest sister, married three miles away at Uppercross, forever ailing, forever slighted, and forever demanding to be attended to.

## Who they are

Mary Musgrove has the Elliot pride without the Elliot looks, and she spends her days cataloguing her ailments and her grievances about precedence against her mother-in-law. She summons Anne to Uppercross whenever she feels neglected, which conveniently places Anne in the same neighborhood as the Musgroves' new acquaintance, Captain Wentworth. Her self-absorption is comic, but it also gives Anne the household vantage point from which the whole courtship drama unfolds.

## Relationships

### [Anne Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/anne_elliot)

_family_

Anne is the patient, long-suffering sister to the hypochondriac and self-centered Mary.

### [Charles Musgrove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/charles_musgrove)

_family_

Married couple with a strained dynamic, as Charles is often exasperated by Mary's complaints and hypochondria.

### [Mr. Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/mr_elliot)

_social_

Mary is flattered by Mr. Elliot's attention, but the relationship is shallow and based on vanity.

### [Charles Musgrove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/charles_musgrove)

_family_

Married couple with a strained dynamic, as Charles is often exasperated by Mary's complaints and hypochondria.

### [Anne Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/anne_elliot)

_family_

Anne is the patient, long-suffering sister to the hypochondriac and self-centered Mary.

### [Anne Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/anne_elliot)

_family_

Anne is the patient, long-suffering sister to the hypochondriac and self-centered Mary.

### [Mr. Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/mr_elliot)

_social_

Mary is flattered by Mr. Elliot's attention, but the relationship is shallow and based on vanity.

### [Charles Musgrove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/charles_musgrove)

_family_

Married couple with a strained dynamic, as Charles is often exasperated by Mary's complaints and hypochondria.

### [Mr. Elliot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/mr_elliot)

_social_

Mary is flattered by Mr. Elliot's attention, but the relationship is shallow and based on vanity.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/i)

The youngest Elliot daughter, who has gained some importance by marrying Charles Musgrove.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/v)

Indisposed and self-pitying; requires Anne to stay with her at Uppercross Cottage; complains of neglect.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/vi)

Mary complains about her health, her children, and her mother-in-law, seeking Anne's influence with Charles.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/vii)

Gratified by Captain Wentworth's attention; relays his comment about Anne's altered appearance.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/ix)

Speculates on Wentworth's preference and disapproves of a match between Henrietta and Charles Hayter.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/x)

Complains of tiredness and insists on turning back, showing her usual self-centeredness and reluctance to join plans not of her making.

### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xii)

Mary insists on staying to nurse Louisa instead of Anne, causing tension and forcing Anne to return to Uppercross.

### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xiv)

Mary is dismissive of Captain Benwick, calling him dull, and tries to downplay Anne's attraction to him.

### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/chapters/xxii)

Eager to attend the party at Camden Place to meet Lady Dalrymple and Mr. Elliot, and annoyed by Charles's plan for the play.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters/mary_musgrove
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/persuasion_se/characters