# Mrs. Proudie — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide > Mrs. Proudie in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** poor Mrs. Proudie, the late Mrs. Proudie, Luckily Mrs. Proudie **First appearance:** 0010-xi-the-bishop-sends-his-inhibition ## Snapshot The Bishop of Barchester's formidable wife, who rules the palace, badgers her husband, and believes she knows exactly what the Church requires. ## Who they are Mrs. Proudie is the undisputed mistress of the bishop's palace at Barchester, a woman whose energy and certainty make her husband's authority merely nominal. When Mr. Crawley insults her and is accused of theft, she demands that he be prosecuted to the full extent of ecclesiastical law, badgering the bishop into agreeing to a commission of inquiry headed by Dr. Tempest. Her implacable sense of propriety and her conviction that she speaks for the Church make her the novel's most formidable engine of judgment—and its most dangerous. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _rivalry_ Mrs. Proudie relentlessly persecutes Mr. Crawley over the alleged theft of a check, embodying ecclesiastical tyranny against his stubborn pride. ### [Conway Dalrymple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/conway_dalrymple) _professional_ Conway Dalrymple, as an artist, interacts with Mrs. Proudie in the context of painting Clara Van Siever's portrait, navigating her domineering presence. ### [Bishop Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/bishop_proudie) _family_ Bishop Proudie is the henpecked husband of Mrs. Proudie, dominated by her will in both domestic and ecclesiastical matters. ### [Archdeacon Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/archdeacon_grantly) _rivalry_ Archdeacon Grantly and Mrs. Proudie are fierce ecclesiastical rivals, constantly clashing over church authority. ### [Lily Dale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/lily_dale) _social_ Lily Dale and Mrs. Proudie are acquaintances with little direct interaction, but Lily is aware of Mrs. Proudie's harshness. ### [Clara Van Siever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/clara_van_siever) _social_ Clara Van Siever is a social acquaintance of Mrs. Proudie, often caught in her schemes regarding the portrait. ### [Major Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/major_grantly) _rivalry_ Major Grantly opposes Mrs. Proudie's persecution of Mr. Crawley, creating tension between them. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _rivalry_ Mrs. Proudie relentlessly persecutes Mr. Crawley over the alleged theft of a check, embodying ecclesiastical tyranny against his stubborn pride. ### [Conway Dalrymple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/conway_dalrymple) _professional_ Conway Dalrymple, as an artist, interacts with Mrs. Proudie in the context of painting Clara Van Siever's portrait, navigating her domineering presence. ### [Bishop Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/bishop_proudie) _family_ Bishop Proudie is the henpecked husband of Mrs. Proudie, dominated by her will in both domestic and ecclesiastical matters. ### [Major Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/major_grantly) _rivalry_ Major Grantly opposes Mrs. Proudie's persecution of Mr. Crawley, creating tension between them. ### [Clara Van Siever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/clara_van_siever) _social_ Clara Van Siever is a social acquaintance of Mrs. Proudie, often caught in her schemes regarding the portrait. ## In the story ### [What the World Thought About It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/v-what-the-world-thought-about-it) Vigorously asserts Mr. Crawley's guilt and pressures the bishop to remove him from his living regardless of the trial outcome. ### [The Bishop Sends His Inhibition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xi-the-bishop-sends-his-inhibition) Dominant and partisan, she insists on inhibiting Mr. Crawley and sending Mr. Thumble to Hogglestock. ### [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) Criticizes Mr. Thumble's failure and asserts her authority over the bishop's handling of the situation. ### [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) Stands in the background, interjects with harsh comments, and insists on Mr. Crawley's guilt and the bishop's duty to act. ### [Where Did It Come from?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xix-where-did-it-come-from) Accused Mr. Crawley of being a thief during the confrontation at the bishop's palace. ### [What Mr. Walker Thought About It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xx-what-mr-walker-thought-about-it) Discussed in gossip; Miss Prettyman claims she declared she would have Mr. Crawley sent to Botany Bay, though Mrs. Walker doubts she said such a thing. ### [Mr. Robarts on His Embassy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxi-mr-robarts-on-his-embassy) Mentioned in connection with the venom displayed during Mr. Crawley's visit to the palace. ### [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) Furious and determined to crush Mr. Crawley, she summons Mr. Chadwick and insists on immediate legal action, overriding the bishop's hesitations. ### [Dr. Tempest at the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlvii-dr-tempest-at-the-palace) Attempts to pressure Dr. Tempest into agreeing with her about Mr. Crawley's guilt, but is rebuffed; later shows unusual softness toward the bishop. ### [The Clerical Commission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/liv-the-clerical-commission) Though not present, her influence is discussed; she is subdued at the palace, fearing the bishop is dying. ### [Requiescat in Pace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxvi-requiescat-in-pace) Struggles with her husband's unprecedented moodiness, attempts gentleness then resorts to firm action, and ultimately realizes she is hated by him. ### [The Obstinacy of Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxviii-the-obstinacy-of-mr-crawley) Her death is discussed as a sudden and awful event, and it shifts the political landscape regarding Crawley's case. ### [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) Mentioned as deceased; her death has awed Mr. Thumble and affected the bishop's willingness to interfere with her arrangements. ### [LXX: Mrs. Arabin Is Caught](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxx-mrs-arabin-is-caught) Reported dead in Galignani's Messenger; Mrs. Arabin reflects on her harsh entry into Barchester. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_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