# Griselda — The Murder at the Vicarage character guide

> Griselda in The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** dear Griselda

**First appearance:** 0001-the-murder-at-the-vicarage

## Snapshot

The vicar's young, pretty, and cheerfully incompetent wife, who treats the parish as a joke and her husband's household hints as comedy.

## Who they are

She married the vicar after twenty-four hours' acquaintance, is nearly twenty years his junior, and has no intention of becoming the meek parson's wife her name suggests. She banters with her nephew-in-law Dennis, mocks the local scandal, and refuses to take her husband's reproaches seriously. Her lightness is the counterweight to the murder's grimness — and her sharp, unguarded tongue often says what the vicar is too polite to.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/i)

The Vicar's young wife, who teases him about his reading habits and threatens to have an affair.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/ii)

Hosts the tea party; invents a dramatic story about Mrs. Lestrange being rescued by Dr. Haydock; defends Miss Cram's motives.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/iii)

Jokes about the village's suspicions and defends her innocence regarding Lawrence.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/iv)

Plans the dinner menu, jokes about burglary and local scandals, and later goes to London by train.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/v)

Returns from London and learns of the murder; points out the clock is kept fifteen minutes fast.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/vi)

Griselda shares news of Lawrence's arrest and later visits Anne Protheroe, finding her terrified rather than grief-stricken.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/x)

Hosts Miss Cram, discusses the murder with the narrator, and reveals that Mary's young man Archer was jailed by Protheroe.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xi)

Upset by village gossip; speculates that someone hated Anne Protheroe and framed her.

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

Griselda shows skepticism about Lettice Protheroe and questions the narrator about the case.

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

Delivers Miss Marple's note to the vicar and mentions her dislike of old women.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xx)

Meets the narrator in distress over Mary giving notice; later mentions Miss Marple's invitation and discusses Lettice's feelings for Lawrence.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxi)

Participates in the dinner conversation and is intrigued by the impostor revelation.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxii)

Accompanies the vicar to Old Hall, discusses the case, and notes reporters in the garden.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxiii)

Declines to join the narrator on his detour to the barrow, as she has things to do at home.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxiv)

Intercepts an anonymous letter accusing her of an affair, then confesses to the narrator that she was once in love with Lawrence Redding.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxvi)

Attends the sermon and later comments on its unusual intensity.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/chapters/xxxii)

Shares a loving moment with the narrator; her pregnancy is hinted at and discovered by Miss Marple.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters/griselda
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_murder_at_the_vicarage_se/characters