# Edith Standerton — The Melody of Death character guide > Edith Standerton in The Melody of Death by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Edith, Edith Cathcart, Edith Standerton **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-amateur-safe-smasher ## Snapshot Gilbert's watchful wife, who recedes into silence whenever her mother enters a room and reads her husband's hidden terror more clearly than anyone. ## Who they are Edith Cathcart lives in her mother's shadow, waiting at the wings of every scene for a cue that will let her exist on her own terms. When a doctor's story about a patient who chose music to signal his own death sentence reaches her ears, she alone understands what it means — and her face goes white. Her quiet vigilance makes her the emotional centre of the novel's middle stretch, the one person close enough to Gilbert to sense what he is hiding. ## Relationships ### [Gilbert Standerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/gilbert_standerton) _family_ Edith and Gilbert are married, with a complex dynamic of affection and strain due to external pressures. ### [Sir John Standerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/sir_john_standerton) _family_ Edith is the daughter-in-law of Sir John Standerton, with a respectful but strained familial bond. ### [May Wing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/may_wing) _friendship_ Edith and May Wing are close friends, with May offering loyalty and comfort to Edith. ### [Gilbert Standerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/gilbert_standerton) _family_ Edith and Gilbert are married, with a complex dynamic of affection and strain due to external pressures. ### [Gilbert Standerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/gilbert_standerton) _family_ Edith and Gilbert are married, with a complex dynamic of affection and strain due to external pressures. ### [Sir John Standerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/sir_john_standerton) _family_ Edith is the daughter-in-law of Sir John Standerton, with a respectful but strained familial bond. ### [Sir John Standerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/sir_john_standerton) _family_ Edith is the daughter-in-law of Sir John Standerton, with a respectful but strained familial bond. ### [May Wing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/may_wing) _friendship_ Edith and May Wing are close friends, with May offering loyalty and comfort to Edith. ## In the story ### [Sunstar's Derby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/ii-sunstar-s-derby) Gilbert's bride-to-be; he has not informed her of his changed financial circumstances. ### [III: Gilbert Leaves Hurriedly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/iii-gilbert-leaves-hurriedly) Appears guarded and distant; her relationship with Gilbert is marked by formality and strain; she is asked to help him escape the party. ### [The "Melody in F"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/iv-the-melody-in-f) The bride, silent and fearful throughout the day, confesses to Gilbert that she married him for his money and does not love him. ### [The Man Who Desired Wealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/v-the-man-who-desired-wealth) Stands by Gilbert against her mother, writes the letter revealing his disinheritance, and begins to see a new tragic side to her husband. ### [The Wife Who Did Not Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/viii-the-wife-who-did-not-love) Reflects on her lack of love for Gilbert, feels jealousy and curiosity about his activities, proposes a dinner party, and confronts her mother about the stolen necklace. ### [Edith Meets the Player](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/ix-edith-meets-the-player) Summons May Wing to her home, questions her about the mysterious music, and resolves to investigate her husband's secrets. ### [X: The Necklace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/x-the-necklace) Discovers the necklace in Gilbert's coat after the dinner party; confronts him and struggles with suspicions of his involvement in burglary. ### [XIII: The Maker of Wills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/xiii-the-maker-of-wills) Gilbert's wife, who receives a wire from the General inviting her to dinner; she is tearful and worried about Gilbert's absence. ### [The Standerton Diamonds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/xiv-the-standerton-diamonds) Travels alone to Tinley to visit Sir John, charms him, and views the Standerton diamonds. ### [The Tale the Doctor Told](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/xv-the-tale-the-doctor-told) Dines with the General and Dr. Barclay-Seymour; becomes increasingly distressed as she realizes the doctor's story is about Gilbert. ### [Bradshaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/chapters/xvi-bradshaw) Greets Gilbert, asks about his return to the Foreign Office, and hints at their honeymoon plans while looking at a Bradshaw timetable. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters/edith_standerton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_melody_of_death_se/characters