The Old Wives’ Tale · Character
Aunt Harriet
Sister of Mrs. Baines; a kind, conventional woman.
minor
Also known as Harriet, Mrs. Maddack, Harriet Maddack, Mrs. Harriet Maddack
First appearance: i the square
Aunt Harriet's tie to Sophia Baines is one of the pressures that moves The Old Wives’ Tale—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Visits from Axe, exerts moral authority, and arranges for Sophia to stay with her.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
With Sophia Baines (family): Aunt and niece, with Aunt Harriet representing the older generation's conventional expectations that Sophia resists. With Sophia Baines (family): Aunt and niece, with Aunt Harriet…
Continue beside the text
The fuller portrait of Aunt Harriet sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Aunt Harriet in i the squareCharacter Web
11 connectionsA slice of how Aunt Harriet sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Bursley family and servants
- Minor and background characters
- Next generation and friends
- Protagonist
- Bursley shop and family
+6 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this excerpt, Sophia reaches an emotional and psychological low point of apathy and entrapment, loathing he…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Sophia Baines
family · ambivalent
Aunt and niece, with Aunt Harriet representing the older generation's conventional… How this plays out →
- Sophia Baines
family · ambivalent
Aunt and niece, with Aunt Harriet representing the older generation's conventional… How this plays out →
- Sophia Baines
family · ambivalent
Aunt and niece, with Aunt Harriet representing the older generation's conventional… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Aunt Harriet in i the squareIn the story
Aunt Harriet appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Aunt Harriet unlock in the free preview.
See Aunt Harriet in i the square