# Mrs. Finn — The Prime Minister character guide

> Mrs. Finn in The Prime Minister by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** one Mrs. Finn, the Duchess Mrs. Finn, the present Mrs. Finn

**First appearance:** 0006-vii-another-old-friend

## Snapshot

The Duchess's sharp-eyed confidante, who reads a whole ministry's fortunes in a drawing-room and reports them without flattery.

## Who they are

Mrs. Finn moves between the Duchess's salons and the Prime Minister's private anxieties, trusted by both and deceived by neither. When the Duchess sulks and the Duke retreats, it is Mrs. Finn who carries the news between them, second-hand and unwelcome. Her cool judgment of ambition, marriage, and political vanity gives the novel its most unsentimental intelligence.

## In the story

### [An Old Friend Goes to Windsor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/vi-an-old-friend-goes-to-windsor)

Visits the Duchess and discusses the Duke's potential appointment as Prime Minister, offering a more measured perspective on the Duke's character and political motivations.

### [Carlton Terrace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xi-carlton-terrace)

Assists the Duchess in planning entertainments and discusses financial matters, noting her own lack of independent wealth due to marriage.

### [The Duke of Omnium Thinks of Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xviii-the-duke-of-omnium-thinks-of-himself)

Accompanies the Duchess as a minister and confidante, discussing the public fuss over the Gatherum party.

### [The Duke's Misery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxvii-the-duke-s-misery)

She is with the Duchess when the Duke visits, and the Duke notes her presence as an obstacle to his private conversation.

### [XXVIII: The Duchess Is Much Troubled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxviii-the-duchess-is-much-troubled)

Constant friend of the Duchess; advises her to let the hospitality system 'die out' gradually.

### [The Horns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-horns)

Questions the Duchess's extravagant spending; referenced in a conversation about the legacy from the old Duke.

### [Sir Orlando Retires](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xxxviii-sir-orlando-retires)

Listens to the Duchess's complaints about Lopez and Sir Orlando; is a confidante.

### [Retribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/xlii-retribution)

Mentioned by the Duchess as a possible guest at Matching, leading to a tense exchange with the Duke.

### [Coddling the Prime Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/li-coddling-the-prime-minister)

Informs the Duchess about the scandal and the Duke's unease, defending the Duke's sensitivity.

### [What the Duchess Thought of Her Husband](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lvi-what-the-duchess-thought-of-her-husband)

The Duchess's friend who advises her to ignore the newspaper trash, but the Duchess insists on reading it.

### [The Explanation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lvii-the-explanation)

Present in the ladies' gallery, anxious for her friend the Duchess and eager to hear her husband's speech.

### [The Duchess and Her Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxiii-the-duchess-and-her-friend)

Exchanges calm remarks with the Duchess, showing contentment with her husband's political role.

### [The Prime Minister's Political Creed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxviii-the-prime-minister-s-political-creed)

Present at Matching, rides in the pony carriage with the Duchess and Lady Glencora.

### [Who Will It Be?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxvi-who-will-it-be)

The Duchess's confidante, who discusses politics and the Duke's possible return. The Duchess reflects on their first meeting and their friendship.

### [The Duchess in Manchester Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxvii-the-duchess-in-manchester-square)

Listens to the Duchess's account of the visit and comments on the nature of women of the best sort.

### [The Last Meeting at Matching](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/chapters/lxxx-the-last-meeting-at-matching)

A close confidante of the Duchess, she listens to the Duchess's reflections on getting used to life out of power.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters/mrs_finn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prime_minister_se/characters