# Mr. Stockdale — Short Fiction character guide > Mr. Stockdale in Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Stockdale, young Stockdale, Poor Stockdale **First appearance:** 0011-the-distracted-preacher ## Snapshot A lonely young minister who lodges with a captivating widow, only to find his pastoral composure unraveling into suspicion, desire, and sleepless nights. ## Who they are Stockdale arrives in a country village as its minister, an inland man raised for the pulpit and starved for someone to spend his tenderness on. Boarding with the attractive Lizzy Newberry, he is drawn into her irregular hours, her secret errands, and a nighttime expedition to the church tower that leaves him more bewildered than enlightened. His sermons begin to suffer, his judgment to blur; the story's early tension lies in whether his craving for intimacy will sharpen his perception or destroy it. ## Relationships ### [Lizzy Newberry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/lizzy_newberry) _romantic_ Lizzy and Mr. Stockdale are entangled in a romantic relationship, with Lizzy's affections often tested by social pressures. ### [Lizzy Newberry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/lizzy_newberry) _romantic_ Lizzy and Mr. Stockdale are entangled in a romantic relationship, with Lizzy's affections often tested by social pressures. ### [Lizzy Newberry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/lizzy_newberry) _romantic_ Lizzy and Mr. Stockdale are entangled in a romantic relationship, with Lizzy's affections often tested by social pressures. ## In the story ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vi) The vicar Mr. Davids advises Agatha to make a conditional promise to Lovill, keeping her secret about Oswald's expected return. ### [The Distracted Preacher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/the-distracted-preacher) The young Methodist preacher who becomes distracted by his feelings for Lizzy Newberry. ### [How His Cold Was Cured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/i-how-his-cold-was-cured) The young Wesleyan minister who arrives in Nether-Moynton and lodges with Mrs. Newberry; he develops a strong attraction to her. ### [How He Saw Two Other Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ii-how-he-saw-two-other-men) Observes Lizzy's conversation with the miller and the hidden listener; presses Lizzy for a romantic commitment but is troubled by her smuggling ties. ### [III: The Mysterious Greatcoat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iii-the-mysterious-greatcoat) Becomes increasingly suspicious of Lizzy's behavior after failing to wake her and discovering the muddy greatcoat. ### [IV: At the Time of the New Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iv-at-the-time-of-the-new-moon) Returns from Knollsea, follows Lizzy, confronts her about smuggling, and struggles with his feelings. ### [How They Went to Lulstead Cove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/v-how-they-went-to-lulstead-cove) Follows Lizzy on the smuggling run, torn between his moral objections and his admiration for her. ### [VI: The Great Search at Nether-Moynton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vi-the-great-search-at-nether-moynton) The Methodist preacher, torn between his conscience and his love for Lizzy, spends a sleepless night and anxiously watches the excise search, eventually joining the villagers on the church tower. ### [VII: The Walk to Warm’ell Cross and Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vii-the-walk-to-warm-ell-cross-and-afterwards) Grows thoughtful and depressed after the excisemen's raid; attempts to read but fails; accompanies Lizzy to Warm'ell Cross; ultimately marries Lizzy and helps her write a tract. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as a character in the broader narrative context, but not directly present in this chapter. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as the gardener from Mount Lodge who delivers the Baron's message to Jim. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/viii) Not present in this chapter. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ix) Not directly present in this chapter. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xii) The Baron is the orchestrator of the marriage, using his influence and authority to compel Margery to fulfill her promise to Jim, while also revealing his illness and impending death. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xiii) Not present in this chapter. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xv) Mr. Vine, Jim's partner, is involved in the scheme to drive Margery to the Review. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/xvii) Not present in this chapter. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/ii) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Withered Arm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/the-withered-arm) A character mentioned in the context of the story's setting, though not directly involved in the main events of this chapter. ### [A Ride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vii-a-ride) Not directly present in this chapter. ### [Andrey Satchel and the Parson and Clerk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/andrey-satchel-and-the-parson-and-clerk) The strict parson who refuses to marry Andrey while drunk but later forgets them due to his love of fox hunting. ### [Dame the Ninth: The Duchess of Hamptonshire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/dame-the-ninth) The stern and inflexible rector of Batton, father of Emmeline. He disapproves of her attachment to Alwyn Hill and forces their separation, arranging her marriage to the Duke. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/i) Referred to as the vicar, Mr. Twycott, who married Sophy after his first wife's death and moved them to London. ### [On the Western Circuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/on-the-western-circuit) A figure of moral and social authority in the narrative. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as 'Mr. Maumbry', the husband who works tirelessly against the cholera and disapproves of Laura's theatrical involvement. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/vi) Not present in this chapter. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/iii) Not present in this chapter. ### [Old Mrs. Chundle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/old-mrs-chundle) The new curate who tries to help Mrs. Chundle hear the service and is moved by her bequest. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters/mr_stockdale - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_53_se/characters