# Mrs. Harry Cresswell — The Quest of the Silver Fleece character guide > Mrs. Harry Cresswell in The Quest of the Silver Fleece by W. E. B. Du Bois. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mrs. Cresswell, Harry Cresswell **First appearance:** 0010-viii-mr-harry-cresswell ## Snapshot Northern-born and married into Southern aristocracy, she confides in a Black student and then recoils from the intimacy she created. ## Who they are Mary Cresswell returns South ahead of her husband, hiding a quarrel behind the excuse of ill health, and finds herself leaning on Bles Alwyn as her only confidant. When she realizes how the intimacy might be read, she flushes with shame and resolves to correct him 'firmly, but gently, like a child'—a cruelty dressed as kindness. Her divided conscience and her husband's growing coarseness push her toward reform work, making her a mirror of the novel's tangled racial and marital politics. ## In the story ### [Mr. Harry Cresswell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/viii-mr-harry-cresswell) Visits the school to intimidate Miss Smith, but is charmed by Mary Taylor. He accuses Zora of being 'utterly depraved' and demands her expulsion. ### [X: Mr. Taylor Calls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/x-mr-taylor-calls) Hosts Mary Taylor on a ride, showing her the plantation and its workers, while also engaging in the business discussion with John Taylor. ### [XIII: Mrs. Grey Gives a Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xiii-mrs-grey-gives-a-dinner) Articulates the Southern paternalistic stance on Negro education, advocating limited training and warning against 'amalgamation.' ### [Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xv-revelation) Furious about Mrs. Grey's education plans, he conspires with Taylor and Easterly to control Negro education, revealing his deep-seated racial and economic motivations. ### [XVI: The Great Refusal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xvi-the-great-refusal) Mr. Cresswell is present at the meeting and is the primary object of Miss Smith's objection. He agrees with the idea of Black development but differs on its applications, and he moves to the window when Miss Smith refuses the offer. ### [The Rape of the Fleece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xvii-the-rape-of-the-fleece) Oversees the Christmas settlement. He acknowledges the quality of Zora's cotton but calculates her earnings to leave her in debt, effectively stealing the Silver Fleece. ### [The Cotton Corner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xviii-the-cotton-corner) Deeply involved in the cotton corner scheme, he becomes increasingly nervous and desperate as prices fall, risking his family's entire fortune. ### [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) In favor of hastening his sister's marriage and his own, he suggests sending the prize cotton bales to John Taylor as a gift. ### [The Marriage Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxi-the-marriage-morning) Harry observes Zora's transformation with amusement and is involved in the wedding preparations, though his motives remain ambiguous. ### [XXIII: The Training of Zora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxiii-the-training-of-zora) Visits Mrs. Vanderpool and expresses concern about Zora's treatment, warning that it is unfair to give her 'impossible ideas' in America. She mentions Bles Alwyn's position in Washington. ### [XXVI: Congressman Cresswell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxvi-congressman-cresswell) Elected to Congress through family influence; actively plots against Bles Alwyn's appointment. ### [XXVII: The Vision of Zora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxvii-the-vision-of-zora) Seeks purpose in social reform, attends the Civic Club meeting, and becomes involved in settlement work, feeling her world expanded. ### [The Annunciation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxviii-the-annunciation) Attends the inaugural ball with his wife, where he is irritated by the Negro ball and later confronts Mary about her Civic Club work, demanding she quit. ### [A Parting of Ways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxi-a-parting-of-ways) After a long illness and the loss of her child, she returns to Washington with a changed appearance and a determination to atone for her past by advancing her husband's career. She confronts Carrie Wynn over the art exhibit and later overhears a phone call that deepens her fears. ### [A Parting of Ways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxi-a-parting-of-ways) He is the focus of his wife's renewed ambitions, but he remains distant and is drawn to social engagements outside the home, causing Mary to fear losing him. ### [XXXIV: The Return of Alwyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-return-of-alwyn) Torn by her own troubles, she misreads Alwyn's intentions and nearly betrays him to her husband. ### [The Mob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-mob) Seeks to atone for past mistakes by scheming to marry Emma to Bles, viewing Zora as a leader. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_quest_of_the_silver_fleece_se/characters/mrs_harry_cresswell - 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