# Mrs. Julius Beaufort — The Age of Innocence character guide

> Mrs. Julius Beaufort in The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Beaufort, young Mrs. Beaufort

**First appearance:** 0001-i

## Snapshot

Beaufort's loyal wife, related to half of old New York, wears her husband's emeralds and her old smile while his ruin gathers behind her back.

## Who they are

Mrs. Beaufort is woven into the Dallas and Mingott connections, which makes her husband's coming disgrace a family matter rather than a stranger's misfortune. She appears blind to his private weaknesses and steadfast at his side, even as Mr. Letterblair wonders how anyone could tell her to leave him. Her veiled late-night visit to old Mrs. Mingott hints at a woman already sensing the ground shifting beneath her.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/iii)

Hostess of the ball, appears at the Opera before the ball. Described as beautiful, indolent, and passive, but with a distinguished house.

### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xiii)

Hosts the box and invites Archer in.

### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxvii)

Appears at Opera with new emerald necklace; her fate discussed; family condemns her for not effacing herself.

### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxx)

Ellen goes to call on her, described by Mrs. Mingott as a 'most unhappy woman'.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/chapters/xxxi)

Visited by Ellen, causing concern among the family about social repercussions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/characters/mrs_beaufort
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_innocence_se/characters