# Gertrude Lodge — Short Fiction character guide

> Gertrude Lodge in Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gertrude, Lodge, the sweet and kindly Gertrude Lodge

**First appearance:** 0002-destiny-and-a-blue-cloak

## Snapshot

A young farmer's bride whose mysterious arm wound slowly costs her beauty, her husband's desire, and her faith in ordinary explanations.

## Who they are

Gertrude Lodge arrives in the valley as the pretty, kind-hearted wife of a prosperous farmer, proud of the looks her husband admired. When a strange mark appears on her arm and refuses to heal, she turns from cheerful wife to anxious seeker of cures, hiding her visits to a conjuror from the man whose love she fears losing. Her affliction binds her to Rhoda in a dependence neither woman can fully name.

## In the story

### [Short Fiction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/short-fiction)

A young wife whose life is affected by a mysterious mark and suspicion.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xvii)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Withered Arm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/the-withered-arm)

The young and beautiful wife of Farmer Lodge, whose arm becomes withered after a terrifying dream involving Rhoda.

### [II: The Young Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ii-the-young-wife)

The young wife, described as fresh-faced and lovely, shy about her noisy gown in church.

### [III: A Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iii-a-vision)

Visits Rhoda's cottage with kindness and gifts, but unknowingly reveals a bruise that matches the grip of Rhoda's dream, deepening the mystery.

### [IV: A Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iv-a-suggestion)

Gertrude's arm remains unhealed and painful; she seeks a remedy and, despite her skepticism, decides to visit Conjuror Trendle, asking Rhoda to accompany her.

### [Conjuror Trendle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/v-conjuror-trendle)

Seeks a cure for her afflicted arm; becomes pale and rigid after the divination, and her manner grows constrained.

### [VI: A Second Attempt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vi-a-second-attempt)

Now five-and-twenty but seeming older, she is consumed by her ailment and has become irritable and superstitious, hoarding quack remedies and charms.

### [A Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vii-a-ride)

Gertrude resolves to follow the conjuror's remedy, secretly riding to Casterbridge to witness an execution and obtain a hanged man's hand.

### [VIII: A Waterside Hermit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/viii-a-waterside-hermit)

Visits the hangman to arrange a cure for her withered arm by touching the corpse of a condemned man.

### [IX: A Rencounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ix-a-rencounter)

Gertrude, in a desperate attempt to cure her paralyzed arm, touches the neck of the executed man, Rhoda Brook's son. The shock causes her to collapse, and she dies three days later.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/gertrude_lodge
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters