# Mother — The Secret Agent character guide

> Mother in The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0008-vi

## Who they are

Mrs. Verloc's mother, who moves out to a charity home.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Verloc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mr_verloc)

_family_

Verloc's mother-in-law lives with the family and is quietly manipulative, sacrificing her own comfort for Stevie's sake.

### [Comrade Ossipon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/comrade_ossipon)

_social_

Ossipon interacts with Verloc's mother as a household acquaintance, showing little genuine interest.

### [Mrs. Verloc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mrs_verloc)

_family_

Mother and daughter share a close but strained bond, with the mother sacrificing her place for Stevie's welfare.

### [Stevie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/stevie)

_family_

Stevie's grandmother dotes on him and is deeply concerned for his safety and well-being.

### [Mr. Verloc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mr_verloc)

_family_

Verloc's mother-in-law lives with the family and is quietly manipulative, sacrificing her own comfort for Stevie's sake.

### [Mrs. Verloc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mrs_verloc)

_family_

Mother and daughter share a close but strained bond, with the mother sacrificing her place for Stevie's welfare.

### [Comrade Ossipon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/comrade_ossipon)

_social_

Ossipon interacts with Verloc's mother as a household acquaintance, showing little genuine interest.

### [Mr. Verloc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mr_verloc)

_family_

Verloc's mother-in-law lives with the family and is quietly manipulative, sacrificing her own comfort for Stevie's sake.

### [Stevie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/stevie)

_family_

Stevie's grandmother dotes on him and is deeply concerned for his safety and well-being.

### [Comrade Ossipon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/comrade_ossipon)

_social_

Ossipon interacts with Verloc's mother as a household acquaintance, showing little genuine interest.

### [Stevie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/stevie)

_family_

Stevie's grandmother dotes on him and is deeply concerned for his safety and well-being.

### [Mrs. Verloc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mrs_verloc)

_family_

Mother and daughter share a close but strained bond, with the mother sacrificing her place for Stevie's welfare.

## In the story

### [The Secret Agent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/chapters/the-secret-agent)

Mrs. Verloc's mother, who lives with the family and is concerned about Stevie's future and the burden on the Verlocs.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/chapters/i)

Winnie's mother, a stout, wheezy woman with a black wig and swollen legs, who moved in with the Verlocs and feels relief from material cares.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/chapters/ii)

Anxious about Stevie's future, grateful to Mr. Verloc for tolerating him, and reflects on Winnie's marriage.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/chapters/vi)

The great lady, a disciple of Michaelis, who influences the Assistant Commissioner's decisions; her kindness and wisdom are noted.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/chapters/viii)

Mrs. Verloc's mother heroically leaves for the almshouse, driven by a strategic plan to secure Stevie's future and avoid the uncertainty of his fate after her death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters/mother
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_agent_se/characters