# Miss Smith — The Quest of the Silver Fleece character guide > Miss Smith in The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W. E. B. Du Bois. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Sarah Smith, Sarah Smith, Miss Sara Smith **First appearance:** 0004-ii-the-school ## Snapshot A gaunt New England teacher who takes Zora under her wing, Miss Smith offers quiet shelter without ever offering charity. ## Who they are Miss Smith is the pale, gray-haired teacher whose cottage becomes Zora's second home and whose office becomes a schoolroom for new ways of living. She listens to Zora's dream of the Silver Fleece with a New Englander's bafflement and then, slowly, with understanding, slipping an arm around the girl's shoulders. Her undemonstrative friendship and her refusal to indulge Zora's pride shape the young woman's rise, and her curt letters to Bles pull him back South. ## In the story ### [II: The School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/ii-the-school) The founder and head of the school, deeply worried about finances but fiercely committed to her mission of educating Black children. ### [III: Miss Mary Taylor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/iii-miss-mary-taylor) The head of the school, representing the older New England generation. She is described as honest, determined, and unselfish, but her personality appeals to Miss Taylor only dimly. ### [IV: Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/iv-town) Provides a cynical assessment of the Cresswells, calling the old man a fool, the young one a rascal, and the girl a ninny. ### [The Place of Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/vii-the-place-of-dreams) Offers wise counsel to Miss Taylor, warning her about treating Bles as a man and not a clod, and emphasizing the need to understand rather than judge. ### [Mr. Harry Cresswell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/viii-mr-harry-cresswell) Refuses to expel Zora based on Harry Cresswell's word, asserting her own judgment and educational philosophy. ### [The Flowering of the Fleece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xi-the-flowering-of-the-fleece) Miss Smith deliberately brings Zora into her circle, offering her a room and guidance, while also subtly regulating Zora's relationship with Bles. ### [XII: The Promise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xii-the-promise) Receives news of the endowment, grapples with the school's future, and confronts the Cresswells' machinations and Bertie's plea. ### [XIV: Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xiv-love) Cares for Zora during her illness and informs Bles of her recovery. ### [XVI: The Great Refusal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xvi-the-great-refusal) Miss Smith stands firm in her principles, refusing Mrs. Grey's endowment because it would put the school under the control of those who do not wish for the best interests of Black folk. She also shows deep care for Zora, holding her through the night, and harshly confronts Mary Taylor for her role in the recent events. ### [The Rape of the Fleece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xvii-the-rape-of-the-fleece) Tends to Zora during her illness, offering counsel to bear the hurt and find solace in work. She watches Zora's resolve with a strange light in her eyes. ### [The Cotton Corner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xviii-the-cotton-corner) A figure of stability in the community, she is approached by Aunt Rachel who is suffering from the tightened credit at the Cresswell store. ### [XX: The Weaving of the Silver Fleece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xx-the-weaving-of-the-silver-fleece) Concerned for Zora's safety and future, she sees Mrs. Vanderpool's offer as Zora's only chance. She agrees to send Zora to her, hoping it will protect her from the Cresswells. ### [XXX: The Return of Zora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxx-the-return-of-zora) Struggles with declining school enrollment and finances, finds hope in Zora's return. ### [XXXII: Zora's Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxii-zora-s-way) Confesses to Zora that the school is doomed due to a failed endowment and a bad mortgage. She is emotionally strained but finds new hope in Zora's strength and the unexpected money. ### [The Buying of the Swamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-buying-of-the-swamp) Mentioned as the head of the school, which is struggling financially and mortgaged. ### [The Cotton Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxv-the-cotton-mill) Continues to expand the school's work, hiring new teachers, including Zora and Bles, which draws the ire of Colonel Cresswell. ### [The Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxvi-the-land) Miss Smith is involved in the negotiations to 'buy' the five men from their debts, supporting the school's land project. ### [Atonement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxviii-atonement) Receives the official notification of the school's legacy and is moved to tears. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters/miss_smith - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters