# Mrs. Broad — The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane character guide

> Mrs. Broad in The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane by Mark Rutherford.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0001-the-revolution-in-tanner-s-lane

## Snapshot

The minister's wife, who installs herself at Priscilla's bedside, pronounces the baby a Flavel, and rides her husband like a wooden rocking-horse.

## Who they are

Mrs. Broad is the presiding respectability of Tanner's Lane, high-headed, managing, and utterly certain of her own judgments, whether naming an infant's lineage or warning her son away from disreputable friends. Nurse Barton's frank contempt — that she orders the minister about and shows no feeling — reveals how the congregation's women privately take her measure. She matters because her social verdicts shape what the younger generation may and may not do.

## In the story

### [XVII: When Wilt Thou Arise Out of Thy Sleep? Yet a Little Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xvii-when-wilt-thou-arise-out-of-thy-sleep-yet-a-little-sleep)

The minister's wife, a proud woman from a distinguished Dissenting family, who is concerned about her son Thomas's behavior and manipulates social situations to protect the family's reputation.

### [A Religious Picnic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xviii-a-religious-picnic)

Mrs. Broad is the ever-watchful mother who strictly supervises her children's interactions, particularly Priscilla's, and disapproves of Thomas being paired with Fanny.

### [XXI: The Wisdom of the Serpent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxi-the-wisdom-of-the-serpent)

Initially opposed to the match due to pride and social aspirations; eventually persuaded by her husband's arguments.

### [XXIII: Further Development](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxiii-further-development)

Installs herself with Priscilla after the birth, pronounces the baby a Flavel, and advises her husband on church politics.

### [XXV: “And a Man’s Foes Shall Be They of His Own Household”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxv-and-a-man-s-foes-shall-be-they-of-his-own-household)

Objects to Nurse Barton's presence; eventually leaves Priscilla's bedside at the doctor's insistence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters/mrs_broad
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/characters