# Bishop Proudie — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide

> Bishop Proudie in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Bishop

**First appearance:** 0010-xi-the-bishop-sends-his-inhibition

## Snapshot

The mild, weary Bishop of Barchester, whose conscience and courage are no match for his wife's ambition to see Mr. Crawley punished and silenced.

## Who they are

Bishop Proudie is a prudent, sagacious man in his own right, but at home he is teased and overborne by Mrs. Proudie, who treats the palace as her own and the clergy as her subjects. When Crawley's alleged theft gives her a cause, the bishop finds himself caught between his instinct to let the civil law take its course and his wife's demand for an immediate ecclesiastical commission. His misery and indecision expose how much of the diocese's real government runs through the drawing-room rather than the throne.

## Relationships

### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie)

_family_

Bishop Proudie is the henpecked husband of Mrs. Proudie, dominated by her will in both domestic and ecclesiastical matters.

### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley)

_professional_

Bishop Proudie, as Mr. Crawley's ecclesiastical superior, is caught between his wife's hostility and his own weak conscience regarding Crawley's case.

### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie)

_family_

Bishop Proudie is the henpecked husband of Mrs. Proudie, dominated by her will in both domestic and ecclesiastical matters.

### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley)

_professional_

Bishop Proudie, as Mr. Crawley's ecclesiastical superior, is caught between his wife's hostility and his own weak conscience regarding Crawley's case.

### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley)

_professional_

Bishop Proudie, as Mr. Crawley's ecclesiastical superior, is caught between his wife's hostility and his own weak conscience regarding Crawley's case.

### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie)

_family_

Bishop Proudie is the henpecked husband of Mrs. Proudie, dominated by her will in both domestic and ecclesiastical matters.

## In the story

### [The Bishop Sends His Inhibition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xi-the-bishop-sends-his-inhibition)

Hesitant and fearful of his wife, he reluctantly agrees to write the letter of inhibition despite knowing it may exceed his authority.

### [Mr. Crawley Is Summoned to Barchester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xvii-mr-crawley-is-summoned-to-barchester)

Summons Mr. Crawley to Barchester and is present during Mrs. Proudie's confrontation with Mr. Thumble.

### [The Bishop of Barchester Is Crushed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xviii-the-bishop-of-barchester-is-crushed)

Attempts to reason with Mr. Crawley about the unseemly position and the need to cease ministrations, but is repeatedly interrupted by his wife.

### [Where Did It Come from?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xix-where-did-it-come-from)

Described as weak, ignorant, and led by his wife; he did not call Mr. Crawley a thief but showed ignorance of the law.

### [Mrs. Proudie Sends for Her Lawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxiv-mrs-proudie-sends-for-her-lawyer)

Unhappy and hostile to Mr. Crawley, but hesitant and overruled by his wife; he hopes the assizes will resolve the matter before the commission acts.

### [Dr. Tempest at the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlvii-dr-tempest-at-the-palace)

Deeply despondent after his quarrel with Mrs. Proudie; sits silently during dinner and later confesses his heart is broken.

### [Requiescat in Pace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxvi-requiescat-in-pace)

Sinks into deep depression and sullen silence, blames his wife for his disgrace, and threatens to resign the diocese.

### [Mr. Crawley's Last Appearance in His Own Pulpit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxix-mr-crawley-s-last-appearance-in-his-own-pulpit)

Refuses to see Mr. Thumble after Mrs. Proudie's death, unwilling to interfere with her arrangements.

### [Barchester Cloisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxxi-barchester-cloisters)

Attends the funeral unexpectedly, looking old and worn, marking a reconciliation.

### [The Last Scene at Hogglestock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxxii-the-last-scene-at-hogglestock)

Receives the dean, mourns Mrs. Proudie, and seeks advice about Mr. Crawley.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/bishop_proudie
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters