# Tilly Macnamara — The Getting of Wisdom character guide

> Tilly Macnamara in The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Macnamara, Tilly

**First appearance:** 0005-iii

## Snapshot

A boisterous, mannish schoolgirl with a plump figure and a taste for flirtation, who befriends Laura and then proves a fair-weather friend.

## Who they are

Tilly Macnamara is the school's confident, boy-crazy type, wearing a stiff white collar and cuffs and swinging her shoulders atop a tightly laced waist as she and Laura go out to 'do the block' and meet a boy named Bob. She lends Laura a sash and dictates her hat, all bonhomie and self-absorption, and her friendship is as performative as her style. Tilly matters because she draws Laura into the social games of courtship and popularity, and because her eventual betrayal is one of the sharp lessons in what school society costs.

## Relationships

### [Laura Rambotham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/laura_rambotham)

_rivalry_

Tilly is a popular and manipulative girl at school who often clashes with Laura, creating a competitive and hostile dynamic.

### [Bob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/bob)

_romantic_

Bob and Tilly share a flirtatious relationship, with Tilly using her charm to keep Bob's attention away from Laura.

### [Bob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/bob)

_romantic_

Bob and Tilly share a flirtatious relationship, with Tilly using her charm to keep Bob's attention away from Laura.

### [Laura Rambotham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/laura_rambotham)

_rivalry_

Tilly is a popular and manipulative girl at school who often clashes with Laura, creating a competitive and hostile dynamic.

### [Laura Rambotham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/laura_rambotham)

_rivalry_

Tilly is a popular and manipulative girl at school who often clashes with Laura, creating a competitive and hostile dynamic.

### [Bob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/bob)

_romantic_

Bob and Tilly share a flirtatious relationship, with Tilly using her charm to keep Bob's attention away from Laura.

## In the story

### [The Purple Dress and the Price of Conformity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/x)

Wealthy new girl who becomes Laura's friend; her affluence highlights Laura's financial struggles.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xii)

Tilly accuses Laura of being sorry for Annie Johns, highlighting the social pressure Laura faces.

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

Laura's intimate friend who also skipped a class; more knowing at first but soon matched by Laura.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xiv)

Acts as matchmaker, criticizes Laura's dress, and is preoccupied with her own appearance and flirting during the walk.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xv)

Obsessed with reducing her waist measurement; Laura reflects on Tilly's priorities after the failed visit to Bob's family.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xvii)

Tilly mocks Laura with a 'lightly mocking smile' and challenges her to reveal details about the visit, pushing Laura to fabricate more elaborate lies.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xviii)

Tilly expresses bitter disdain for Laura, mocking her shyness and claiming she was a fool to believe Laura's stories.

### [The Rebel's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xx)

Mentioned as one of the chief witnesses of Laura's disgrace, left behind in the class shift.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters/tilly_macnamara
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/characters