# Madge — The Child of the Cavern character guide > Madge in The Child of the Cavern by Jules Verne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Madge, Old Madge, good old Madge **First appearance:** 0003-iv-the-ford-family ## Snapshot Simon Ford's wife and Harry's mother, Madge is the cottage's warm heart, the first to feed and name the girl pulled from the pit. ## Who they are When Harry carries the half-dead child home, it is Madge who tends her, questions her gently in Gaelic, and gives her the name Nell. She becomes the girl's adoptive mother, patient with a daughter who does not know what a year is. Her steady kindness grounds the underground household and makes Nell's later confession of her true parentage land as a blow to a family, not an abstraction. ## Relationships ### [Harry Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/harry_ford) _family_ Madge is Harry's mother, a devoted and caring parent who lives with him in the cottage. ### [Nell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/nell) _family_ Madge becomes a maternal figure to Nell, teaching her domestic skills and offering warmth. ### [James Starr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/james_starr) _friendship_ James Starr is a longtime friend of the Ford family, especially close with Madge and Harry. ### [Jack Ryan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/jack_ryan) _friendship_ Jack Ryan is a friendly visitor to the Ford home, sharing meals and camaraderie with Madge. ### [Harry Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/harry_ford) _family_ Madge is Harry's mother, a devoted and caring parent who lives with him in the cottage. ### [Harry Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/harry_ford) _family_ Madge is Harry's mother, a devoted and caring parent who lives with him in the cottage. ### [James Starr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/james_starr) _friendship_ James Starr is a longtime friend of the Ford family, especially close with Madge and Harry. ### [Nell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/nell) _family_ Madge becomes a maternal figure to Nell, teaching her domestic skills and offering warmth. ### [Nell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/nell) _family_ Madge becomes a maternal figure to Nell, teaching her domestic skills and offering warmth. ### [Jack Ryan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/jack_ryan) _friendship_ Jack Ryan is a friendly visitor to the Ford home, sharing meals and camaraderie with Madge. ## In the story ### [IV: The Ford Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/iv-the-ford-family) Simon's wife, a strong and cheerful woman, prepares a lavish meal and encourages her husband's hopes for the mine. ### [V: Some Strange Phenomena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/v-some-strange-phenomena) Mentioned as having a leaning toward the supernatural, though she keeps her stories to herself. ### [VII: New Aberfoyle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/vii-new-aberfoyle) Simon's wife, who accompanies the party and observes the blasting. ### [VIII: Exploring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/viii-exploring) Simon's wife, sturdy and observant, examines a coal sample and remains calm during the crisis. ### [IX: The Fire-Maidens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/ix-the-fire-maidens) Her almanac shows the family left the cottage on December 6; the house is orderly with provisions. ### [X: Coal Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/x-coal-town) Loves Jack Ryan for his good nature; shares his belief in fantastic beings and tells stories with him. ### [XII: Nell Adopted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/xii-nell-adopted) Cares for Nell with maternal tenderness; questions her gently about her past. ### [XIII: On the Revolving Ladder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/xiii-on-the-revolving-ladder) Grows more attached to Nell as an adopted child. ### [XIV: A Sunrise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/xiv-a-sunrise) Takes leave of the travelers but does not join the excursion, preferring to stay in the cottage. ### [A Final Threat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/xvi-a-final-threat) Madge is with Simon when the flood occurs; she later cares for Nell after the girl discovers the threatening message on the door. ### [The “Monk”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/chapters/xvii-the-monk) Supports Nell emotionally and comments on Silfax's rancor over the marriage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters/madge - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_child_of_the_cavern_se/characters