# Thin Woman of Inis Magrath — The Crock of Gold character guide > Thin Woman of Inis Magrath in The Crock of Gold by James Stephens. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Magrath, the Thin Woman **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot A sharp-tongued wise woman who married a philosopher to pinch him, and now sets out to find the husbands who have wandered off. ## Who they are The Thin Woman of Inis Magrath is one of two formidable wives who married the philosophers out of spite and have been regretting it, or enjoying it, ever since. She lectures on the cunning of weakness, packs cakes for a journey, and trades barbs with strangers at wells, all while pursuing the men who left. Her expedition gives the book its comic counter-movement, a domestic quest running alongside the metaphysical one, and her shrewdness often cuts closer to the truth than the philosophers' syllogisms. ## Relationships ### [Leprecaun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/leprecaun) _family_ They are married, with a contentious but deeply bonded relationship, often bickering and working together in their household. ### [Shawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/shawn) _professional_ Shawn serves as a servant or helper to the Thin Woman, carrying out errands and domestic tasks. ### [Grey Woman of Dun Gortin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/grey_woman_of_dun_gortin) _rivalry_ The Grey Woman is a hostile, supernatural figure who opposes the Thin Woman, representing darker forces in the story. ### [Shepherd Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/shepherd_girl) _social_ The Shepherd Girl interacts with the Thin Woman as a fellow villager, often seeking her wisdom or help. ### [Angus Óg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/angus_og) _friendship_ Angus Óg and the Thin Woman share a respectful alliance, with Angus often aiding her in magical matters. ### [Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/pan) _rivalry_ Pan and the Thin Woman are often at odds, as Pan's chaotic nature clashes with her domestic and magical order. ### [Seumas Beg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/seumas_beg) _family_ The Thin Woman is Seumas Beg's mother, and she is both nurturing and stern, guiding his upbringing. ### [Leprecaun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/leprecaun) _family_ They are married, with a contentious but deeply bonded relationship, often bickering and working together in their household. ### [Angus Óg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/angus_og) _friendship_ Angus Óg and the Thin Woman share a respectful alliance, with Angus often aiding her in magical matters. ### [Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/pan) _rivalry_ Pan and the Thin Woman are often at odds, as Pan's chaotic nature clashes with her domestic and magical order. ### [Shawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/shawn) _professional_ Shawn serves as a servant or helper to the Thin Woman, carrying out errands and domestic tasks. ### [Angus Óg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/angus_og) _friendship_ Angus Óg and the Thin Woman share a respectful alliance, with Angus often aiding her in magical matters. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/i) One of the two women who married the Philosophers; she swaps her child with the Grey Woman and becomes a tender mother to the boy. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/ii) Wife of the surviving Philosopher; holds contrary maxims about knowledge, buries the dead, and smacks the children. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/iv) The Thin Woman receives the Leprecaun's complaint but denies responsibility, later confronting the Philosopher. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/v) Becomes anxious when the children are late and accuses the Leprecaun of kidnapping. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/viii) Knocks on the tree trunk to demand the children's return, and later bakes a cake for them. ### [The Philosopher's Quest and Confrontation with Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/x) The Philosopher's wife refuses to undertake another embassy to Pan, citing her virtue and self-respect, and argues with her husband. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xi) The woman traveling with the two men in the cart; she argues with the Philosopher about nature and wisdom, and later sets up camp with the men. ### [Book V: The Policemen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-v-the-policemen) Accompanies the children in their journey. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xiv) Referenced as the other person who lived with the Philosopher and is now dead, though not named directly. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xv) She brings stirabout to the Philosopher, embraces him, and tries to persuade him to hide with the Leprecauns or seek refuge with Angus Óg. ### [Book VI: The Thin Woman’s Journey and the Happy March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-vi-the-thin-woman-s-journey-and-the-happy-march) Leads the journey to Angus Óg ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xvii) Bakes three cakes, forgives the Leprecauns, confronts three supernatural figures, and instructs the children on gender dynamics. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/thin_woman_of_inis_magrath - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters