# Eliza of Blindbeck — The Splendid Fairing character guide > Eliza of Blindbeck in The Splendid Fairing by Constance Holme. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Eliza, Blindbeck, the terrible Eliza **First appearance:** 0010-part-ii-eliza ## Snapshot The prosperous, merciless mistress of Blindbeck, whose lifelong Method is to measure everyone against herself and find them shabby. ## Who they are Eliza intended to marry Simon and never forgave Sarah for winning him, so she has spent forty years sneering, striking, and inviting the world to mark the gulf between the Wills and the Simon Thornthwaites. Her wealth and her loud dinners at the inn make her the social arbiter of the district, and her mockery has stamped her poorer relations as poor relations for good. Her restless malice drives the family's central feud. ## Relationships ### [Sarah Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/sarah_thornthwaite) _friendship_ Eliza and Sarah share a deep, supportive bond, often confiding in each other and offering mutual aid. ### [Simon Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/simon_thornthwaite) _romantic_ Eliza and Simon share a tender, unspoken romantic attraction, marked by longing glances and quiet devotion. ### [Will Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/will_thornthwaite) _friendship_ Eliza and Will are easygoing friends, often joking and helping each other with daily tasks. ### [Geordie Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/geordie_thornthwaite) _friendship_ Eliza and Geordie are friendly acquaintances, often sharing lighthearted banter and mutual support. ### [Elliman Wilkinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/elliman_wilkinson) _rivalry_ Eliza and Elliman are competitors for social standing or affection, with underlying tension and jealousy. ### [Jamie Lowther](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/jamie_lowther) _social_ Eliza and Jamie are polite acquaintances, interacting mainly in community gatherings. ### [Sarah Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/sarah_thornthwaite) _friendship_ Eliza and Sarah share a deep, supportive bond, often confiding in each other and offering mutual aid. ### [Sarah Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/sarah_thornthwaite) _friendship_ Eliza and Sarah share a deep, supportive bond, often confiding in each other and offering mutual aid. ### [Simon Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/simon_thornthwaite) _romantic_ Eliza and Simon share a tender, unspoken romantic attraction, marked by longing glances and quiet devotion. ### [Simon Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/simon_thornthwaite) _romantic_ Eliza and Simon share a tender, unspoken romantic attraction, marked by longing glances and quiet devotion. ### [Will Thornthwaite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/will_thornthwaite) _friendship_ Eliza and Will are easygoing friends, often joking and helping each other with daily tasks. ### [Jamie Lowther](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/jamie_lowther) _social_ Eliza and Jamie are polite acquaintances, interacting mainly in community gatherings. ## In the story ### [The Splendid Fairing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/the-splendid-fairing) Confronts Sarah at the café, mocks Sarah as they leave Blindbeck. ### [Part I: Simon and Sarah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/part-i-simon-and-sarah) Confronts Sarah at the café and mocks Sarah and Simon as they leave Blindbeck. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/v) Eliza enters the café and deliberately humiliates Sarah, revealing that Simon has told Will about their leaving Sandholes. She is loud, condescending, and revels in her superior social position. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/vi) Eliza is described as the source of the long-standing feud, having arranged a competitive double wedding and constantly vying with Sarah. ### [Part II: Eliza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/part-ii-eliza) Introduced as a central figure in this part, Eliza is depicted as a strong, critical, and embittered woman who dominates the household and expresses disdain for the Thornthwaites' perceived failures. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/i) Recalled in Sarah's memory as the flamboyant figure who disrupted her wedding with a grand entrance, wearing a veil and causing a stir in the village. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/ii) The antagonist who uses her Method to demean Simon and Sarah, and subtly disowns Jim. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iii) Hosts the tea party, makes cutting remarks to Sarah and Simon, and manipulates the conversation to humiliate them. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned as the source of bad blood with Sarah; Will's wife who would oppose Sarah living with them. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the owner of the parlour and its possessions; Sarah imagines her suffering from envy. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/vi) Eliza is consumed by jealousy and rage, accusing Geordie of robbing or killing Jim. She nearly attacks Sarah physically before being restrained. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/vii) Eliza shifts from rage to a smooth, mocking demeanor, publicly humiliating Sarah and revealing Simon's potential job. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/viii) Eliza is mentioned as having somehow learned of Simon's arrangement with Will; Simon calls her a 'gert, spying toad.' ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the object of Sarah and Simon's shared hatred; Sarah recalls making Eliza weep, and Simon blames her for their troubles. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/ii) Eliza is the object of Sarah's hatred; Sarah imagines being delivered into Eliza's hands and recalls Eliza's history as a rival. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iii) Jim's mother, waiting for him at Blindbeck; Sarah repeatedly tells Jim to go to her. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/chapters/iv) Eliza is referenced as the object of Sarah's jealousy and hatred; Sarah feels she has finally paid Eliza back through her imagined revenge. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters/eliza_of_blindbeck - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_splendid_fairing_se/characters