Short Fiction · Character

Mr. Greenmantle

A perplexed father in Plumplington whose two telegraph-girl daughters, Lucy and Sophy, turn a steady engineer's attentions into a domestic crisis.

major

Also known as these Mr. Greenmantle, III Mr. Greenmantle, Greenmantle, Here Mr. Greenmantle

First appearance: III: Mr. Greenmantle Is Much Perplexed

As a major figure in Short Fiction, Mr. Greenmantle is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The narrator and a friend of both Miss Gledd and Mr.

In the storyMiss Ophelia GleddOpen this moment free

Mr. Greenmantle watches his daughters navigate lodgings, late hours, and the arrival of Abraham Hall, a solid, smutty, well-spoken engineer who seems a pillar of strength. The trouble is that both girls take an interest, and Sophy's finery and forwardness clash with Lucy's proud rule that a girl should be sought, not seeking. His bewilderment as a parent anchors the comedy of manners and the quiet contest of character at the story's heart.

See Mr. Greenmantle in Miss Ophelia Gledd Book page

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Character Web

47 connections

A slice of how Mr. Greenmantle sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Dramatic Island Stories
Rural Romance & Family
Alice Dugdale Story
Plumplington & Social Climbing

+42 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Bessy Pryor’s internal struggle reaches its emotional and psychological peak as she wrestles with the conflict…

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Relationships

Emily Greenmantle
family · ambivalent
Emily Greenmantle and Mr. How this plays out →
Emily Greenmantle
family · ambivalent
Emily Greenmantle and Mr. How this plays out →
Emily Greenmantle
family · ambivalent
Emily Greenmantle and Mr. How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Greenmantle in III: Mr. Greenmantle Is Much Perplexed

In the story

Mr. Greenmantle appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Miss Ophelia Gledd
The narrator and a friend of both Miss Gledd and Mr. Pryor. He is an Englishman who observes the social dynamics and is consulted by Mr. Hoskins about Miss Gledd's romantic status.
The Adventures of Fred Pickering
A gentleman well known in the literary world who helps Fred gain access to the British Museum library and offers candid advice about the difficulty of a literary career.
How Bessy Pryor Was to Be Banished
Mr. Gregory (likely a variant of Mr. Greenmantle) proposes his sister in Avranches as a suitable place for Bessy's exile.
I: The Two Girls
The stern bank manager and father of Emily, who forbids her marriage to Philip Hughes and insists on his authority.
II: “Down I Shall Go”
Emily's father, who opposes her relationship with Philip Hughes. He has pressed his lips together and refused to discuss the matter, leaving Emily feeling hopeless.
III: Mr. Greenmantle Is Much Perplexed
Perplexed and stern, he is determined to prevent his daughter Emily from marrying Philip Hughes, the bank cashier, and feels insulted by Mr. Peppercorn's suggestion that they are in a similar situation.
Jack Hollycombe
Mentioned as a fellow father in a similar situation, with a daughter Emily who is also determined to marry against her father's wishes.
V: Dr. Freeborn and Philip Hughes
The banker who decides to take his daughter Emily to the south of France to separate her from Philip Hughes, and later informs Hughes of his decision.
The Young Ladies Are to Be Taken Abroad
Discovers Philip with Emily, angrily orders him out, and insists on taking Emily abroad for a prolonged residence.
The Young Ladies Are to Remain at Home
Struggles against the conspiracy of neighbors and his daughter's illness, feeling pressured to give in.
Christmas-Day
Reluctantly agrees to attend the dinner, concerned about social rank and association with the Peppercorns.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mr. Greenmantle in III: Mr. Greenmantle Is Much Perplexed

See Mr. Greenmantle in Miss Ophelia Gledd