# Mrs. Newsome — The Ambassadors character guide

> Mrs. Newsome in The Ambassadors by Henry James.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Newsome

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Who they are

Chad's formidable mother in Woollett, who sends Strether to Paris as her envoy and watches his every move from across the Atlantic.

## Relationships

### [Lambert Strether](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/lambert_strether)

_professional_

Mrs. Newsome is Strether's wealthy patron and employer, who expects him to carry out her will regarding Chad.

### [Chad Newsome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/chad_newsome)

_family_

Mrs. Newsome is Chad's mother, and their relationship is defined by her controlling attempts to bring him home.

### [Maria Gostrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/maria_gostrey)

_social_

Maria and Mrs. Newsome are acquaintances through Strether, but Maria is viewed with suspicion by Mrs. Newsome.

### [Lambert Strether](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/lambert_strether)

_professional_

Mrs. Newsome is Strether's wealthy patron and employer, who expects him to carry out her will regarding Chad.

### [Maria Gostrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/maria_gostrey)

_social_

Maria and Mrs. Newsome are acquaintances through Strether, but Maria is viewed with suspicion by Mrs. Newsome.

### [Chad Newsome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/chad_newsome)

_family_

Mrs. Newsome is Chad's mother, and their relationship is defined by her controlling attempts to bring him home.

### [Chad Newsome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/chad_newsome)

_family_

Mrs. Newsome is Chad's mother, and their relationship is defined by her controlling attempts to bring him home.

## In the story

### [The Ambassadors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/the-ambassadors)

Strether's fiancée and Chad's mother, who orchestrates the mission.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as the possible force behind Strether's journey; Waymarsh speculates that Strether is running from or after her.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as Chad's mother who has kept a business opportunity for him; contrasted with Miss Gostrey in dress and demeanor.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as having been grateful for Chad's early signs of ambition; her views on books contrast with Strether's.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/i)

Referenced as Chad's mother who is passionately set on his return and has sent Strether as her emissary.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/i)

Referenced as the person to whom Strether should report favorably about Madame de Vionnet and Jeanne.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as a powerful figure whom Madame de Vionnet fears; Strether writes to her about Chad.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/ii)

Is the unseen orchestrator, having cabled her daughter; Strether vividly imagines her daily cables and her high pitch of expense and control.

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

Her moral pressure is felt through Sarah, as Strether senses she is reaching him by the lengthened arm of the spirit.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/ii)

Mrs. Newsome is referenced as having imagined horrors about Strether's mission and being intensely disappointed; her cold thought is conveyed through Sarah.

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

Referenced as the source of Strether's mission; Maria had feared Strether might swing back to her principles, but he has not.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/chapters/v)

Mrs. Newsome is discussed as being 'more than ever the same,' and Strether states that his breach with her is past mending.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters/mrs_newsome
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_ambassadors_se/characters