# Mrs. Stirling — The Blue Castle character guide > Mrs. Stirling in The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mrs. Frederick Stirling, Mrs. Frederick, Frederick Stirling, Poor Mrs. Frederick **First appearance:** 0001-ii ## Snapshot Valancy's mother, a woman of insulted-duchess sulks and rigid appearances, who cannot brook opposition and has trained her daughter never to persist. ## Who they are Mrs. Frederick Stirling rules her household through silence, disapproval, and days-long sulks, keeping up appearances downstairs while leaving Valancy's room—and life—deliberately ugly. She believes anyone wanting to be alone must want it for a sinister purpose, and she has made her daughter afraid to suggest, refuse, or dream aloud. Her horror at Valancy's rebellion fuels the early conflict, since escaping her mother's displeasure means escaping the only identity Valancy has ever been allowed. ## Relationships ### [Valancy Stirling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/valancy_stirling) _family_ Mrs. Stirling is Valancy's cold, critical mother who dismisses her daughter's feelings and ambitions. ### [Cousin Stickles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/cousin_stickles) _family_ Cousin Stickles and Mrs. Stirling are co-conspirators in enforcing a stifling, judgmental household atmosphere. ### [Uncle James](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/uncle_james) _family_ Mrs. Stirling and Uncle James are siblings who share a domineering, conservative approach to family life. ### [Valancy Stirling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/valancy_stirling) _family_ Mrs. Stirling is Valancy's cold, critical mother who dismisses her daughter's feelings and ambitions. ### [Cousin Stickles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/cousin_stickles) _family_ Cousin Stickles and Mrs. Stirling are co-conspirators in enforcing a stifling, judgmental household atmosphere. ### [Uncle James](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/uncle_james) _family_ Mrs. Stirling and Uncle James are siblings who share a domineering, conservative approach to family life. ### [Cousin Stickles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/cousin_stickles) _family_ Cousin Stickles and Mrs. Stirling are co-conspirators in enforcing a stifling, judgmental household atmosphere. ### [Valancy Stirling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/valancy_stirling) _family_ Mrs. Stirling is Valancy's cold, critical mother who dismisses her daughter's feelings and ambitions. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/i) Valancy's mother, who is ashamed of her unmarried daughter and enforces strict propriety, disapproving of any independent thought or action. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/ii) Mrs. Stirling is referenced as the enforcer of strict household rules, including no fires before October 21st, and is implied to have contributed to her husband's death by refusing a fire on October 20th. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/iii) Dismissive and controlling; rebukes Valancy for eating crusts, contradicts her about the library book, and insists on calling her 'Doss'. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/iv) Mrs. Stirling insists Valancy wear a flannel petticoat, citing her past bronchitis. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/v) Mrs. Stirling is mentioned in Valancy's memory of the church incident, scolding her for taking off her hat. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/vi) Criticizes Valancy at supper; discusses family gossip; makes pointed remarks about old maids and cats. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/vii) Angry with Valancy over the rosebush; maintains a stony silence; dismissive of Valancy's health. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/viii) Valancy recalls her mother's disappointment in her and the pressure to conform, which fuels her rebellion. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/ix) Mrs. Frederick Stirling is increasingly distressed by Valancy's behavior, trying to maintain control before the silver wedding dinner but failing to understand her daughter's transformation. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xi) Mrs. Frederick Stirling is horrified by Valancy's behavior, feeling she has become a disgrace and a disappointment. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as someone who would be fussy and alarmed, not sympathetic. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xiii) Valancy's mother, who weeps and entreats but cannot change Valancy's mind. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xiv) Distressed by Valancy's defiance and the smell of whisky; unable to control Valancy's actions. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xv) Distraught and weeping over Valancy's departure, she recounts Valancy's rebellious statements and feels disgraced. ### [The Dance at Chidley Corners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xx) Takes to bed for a day upon hearing Valancy attended a Free Methodist church. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xxii) Mrs. Frederick is horrified by Valancy's behavior, feeling that her motherhood has been betrayed, and stops attending church due to shame. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xxiv) Mrs. Stirling asks Valancy to come home after the funeral. ### [Cousin Georgiana's News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xxvii) Valancy's mother reacts with mournful dignity to the news of her daughter's marriage, refusing to disown her entirely. ### [Spring on Mistawis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xxxiii) Seen through the window, knitting drearily with Cousin Stickles, unchanged and unapproachable. ### [The Return of the Prodigal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xl) Cold and unwelcoming at first, but softens upon learning that Barney is Bernard Redfern, son of a millionaire. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/xlii) Mrs. Frederick Stirling goes upstairs to tell Valancy that her husband is waiting for her. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters/mrs_stirling - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_blue_castle_se/characters