The Mill on the Floss · Character

Mrs. Glegg

From her front and back parlours, Mrs. Glegg audits the moral failings of St. Ogg's, especially her brother-in-law Tulliver's, with the ledger always open.

supporting

Also known as sister Glegg, aunt Glegg, Glegg

First appearance: vi the aunts and uncles are coming

As a supporting figure in The Mill on the Floss, Mrs. Glegg is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mrs. Glegg is the eldest and most formidable of the Dodson sisters, a woman who regards herself as the family's constituted check on weakness and extravagance. She clashes openly with Mr. Tulliver over money and pride, yet her quarrel is never so final that she cannot speak civil when spoken to. Her sharp tongue and sharper accounts make her the measuring rod against which the Tullivers' precarious respectability is judged.

See Mrs. Glegg in vi the aunts and uncles are coming Book page

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Character Web

16 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Glegg sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

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Major characters and family
Minor characters and background

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional/psychological peak occurs when Maggie, despite her "heavy heart" and initial re…

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In the story

Mrs. Glegg appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Enter the Aunts and Uncles
Criticizes Mr. Tulliver's indulgence of Maggie and expresses disapproval of the schooling plan.
Mr. Tulliver Shows His Weaker Side
Her loan of five hundred pounds is the source of Mr. Tulliver's financial worry.
Mr. and Mrs. Glegg at Home
Shows her quarrelsome nature and pride in her household management; she is upset with Mr. Tulliver and chides Mr. Glegg for not supporting her.
Mr. Tulliver Further Entangles the Skein of Life
Receives Mr. Tulliver's letter demanding repayment of her loan; maintains her principles regarding her will and family honor.
Book III: The Downfall
Participates in the family council, representing the Dodson side's concern over the Tullivers' financial disgrace.
The Family Council
Dominant and severe, she lectures Tom and Maggie on their new condition, insisting they must be humble and work. She angrily rejects Tom's proposal to use her money, asserting her control over her own savings.
I: A Variation of Protestantism Unknown to Bossuet
Implied as a representative Dodson, embodying the family's pride in respectability and strict adherence to tradition.
Aunt Glegg Learns the Breadth of Bob's Thumb
Mrs. Glegg insists on being consulted and contributes twenty pounds to Tom's venture, expecting interest.
A Family Party
Attends the party; scolds Mr. Glegg for joking; expresses displeasure at Maggie's plan to go away without consulting her.
III: Showing That Old Acquaintances Are Capable of Surprising Us
Surprisingly offers Maggie shelter and support, standing by family honor despite her earlier judgments.
IV: Maggie and Lucy
Mrs. Glegg is mentioned as a source of news about Lucy's recovery and plans, indicating her continued involvement in family matters.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mrs. Glegg in vi the aunts and uncles are coming