# Mrs. Clare — Tess of the d’Urbervilles character guide

> Mrs. Clare in Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mrs. Clare, Clare

**First appearance:** 0031-xxv

## Who they are

Angel's mother, a gentle woman who worries about her son's future.

## In the story

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxv)

Angel's mother, who appears in a cap and silver spectacles, part of the family group welcoming Angel home.

### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxvi)

Angel's mother, who expresses concern about Tess's social standing and suggests Mercy Chant as a more suitable match.

### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xxxix)

Angel's mother, who senses something is wrong and asks directly if Tess's history would bear investigation; she praises Tess's purity, forcing Angel to lie.

### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/xlix)

Mrs. Clare expresses regret over Angel's education and marriage, and worries about his safety.

### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/chapters/liii)

Greets Angel with relief but is shocked by his appearance; dismisses Tess as a 'child of the soil' but later shows sympathy due to Tess's sin.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters/mrs_clare
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tess_of_the_d_urbervilles_se/characters