# Mrs. Kronborg — The Song of the Lark character guide > Mrs. Kronborg in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Kronborg **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot Thea's unflappable mother, she runs a noisy house full of children and coffee and music, and quietly refuses to apologize for any of it. ## Who they are Mrs. Kronborg is the practical center of the Kronborg household, a woman who browns coffee, manages a brood of children, and tells the Ladies' Aid exactly what she thinks about standard composers. She is not sentimental about her daughter's talent, but she is not dismissive of it either — she simply makes room for it, the way she makes room for everything else. Her steady, unsentimental competence is the ground Thea stands on when she begins to imagine leaving Moonstone. ## Relationships ### [Thea Kronborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/thea_kronborg) _family_ Mrs. Kronborg is Thea's practical, often stern mother who manages the household but struggles to understand Thea's artistic ambitions. ### [Herr Wunsch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/herr_wunsch) _social_ Herr Wunsch and Mrs. Kronborg have a cordial but distant relationship, bound by their shared concern for Thea's musical education. ### [Dr. Howard Archie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/dr_howard_archie) _friendship_ Dr. Archie and Mrs. Kronborg share a respectful friendship, often consulting each other about Thea's health and future. ### [Peter Kronborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/peter_kronborg) _family_ Mrs. Kronborg and Peter Kronborg are a married couple with a practical, somewhat strained relationship due to their differing temperaments. ### [Ray Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/ray_kennedy) _social_ Mrs. Kronborg approves of Ray Kennedy as a potential suitor for Thea, seeing him as a stable and reliable match. ### [Thea Kronborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/thea_kronborg) _family_ Mrs. Kronborg is Thea's practical, often stern mother who manages the household but struggles to understand Thea's artistic ambitions. ### [Herr Wunsch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/herr_wunsch) _social_ Herr Wunsch and Mrs. Kronborg have a cordial but distant relationship, bound by their shared concern for Thea's musical education. ### [Thea Kronborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/thea_kronborg) _family_ Mrs. Kronborg is Thea's practical, often stern mother who manages the household but struggles to understand Thea's artistic ambitions. ### [Dr. Howard Archie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/dr_howard_archie) _friendship_ Dr. Archie and Mrs. Kronborg share a respectful friendship, often consulting each other about Thea's health and future. ### [Ray Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/ray_kennedy) _social_ Mrs. Kronborg approves of Ray Kennedy as a potential suitor for Thea, seeing him as a stable and reliable match. ### [Ray Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/ray_kennedy) _social_ Mrs. Kronborg approves of Ray Kennedy as a potential suitor for Thea, seeing him as a stable and reliable match. ### [Peter Kronborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/peter_kronborg) _family_ Mrs. Kronborg and Peter Kronborg are a married couple with a practical, somewhat strained relationship due to their differing temperaments. ## In the story ### [Part I: Friends of Childhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/part-i-friends-of-childhood) Thea's mother, part of her family environment. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/i) Thea's mother, recovering after childbirth; described as having a fine constitution. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/ii) Sitting up in bed darning stockings, managing household schedules, and defending Professor Wunsch's teaching. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/iii) Mrs. Kronborg maintains discipline in the household with a rawhide whip, respects her children's individuality, and is described as having a strategic mind. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/v) Mrs. Kronborg comforts Thea after the incident, offering practical advice and a treat to cheer her up. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/viii) Advises Thea on her choice of music; stays up to fill Christmas stockings; shows a clear, indifferent eye toward Thea's mood. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/ix) Mrs. Kronborg watches Thea thoughtfully and takes her more seriously than her other children, though she does not analyze why. She notes Thea's peculiar patience with Tillie and advises Thea to tone down Tillie's excesses. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/xiv) Initially hesitant about Thea working too hard, but agrees to the plan and accompanies her husband to Copper Hole. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/xvi) Travels with Thea; interacts with the lonely station agent and two tramps at Wassiwappa; demonstrates compassion and practicality. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/xvii) Attends prayer-meetings with Thea but stays silent; offers practical comfort to Thea. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/xviii) Mrs. Kronborg defends Thea's Sunday piano practice and admires energetic, positive people, showing a pragmatic and tolerant nature. ### [Departure and New Beginnings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/xx) Oversees Thea's preparations, reflects on her daughter's departure, and supports the plan. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/ix) Shows perceptive and supportive behavior; brings Thea breakfast and advises her to sing at Maggie Evans's funeral. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/x) Thea tells her mother she is going to the dance; Mrs. Kronborg wisely lets her go alone. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/xi) Defends Thea at the dinner table against the family's criticism of her association with the Mexicans. ### [Part VI: Kronborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/part-vi-kronborg) Thea's mother, who remains in Moonstone. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/chapters/iii) Declining after her husband's death; shows serene acceptance and pride in Thea's success; dies before Thea can return. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters/mrs_kronborg - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_song_of_the_lark_se/characters