# Elizabeth Simpson — The Uncalled character guide

> Elizabeth Simpson in The Uncalled by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lizzie

**First appearance:** 0005-vi

## Snapshot

The minister's daughter everyone expects Brent to marry, she moves through Dexter's Sunday-schools and parlors as the ideal preacher's wife in waiting.

## Who they are

Elizabeth is the daughter of the older minister whose pulpit Brent inherits, and her steady Sunday walks home with Brent have the whole town reading their future in every glance. The match is smooth, sanctioned by both father and guardian, yet its very ease makes it feel like one more path already laid out for a man who chafes at dead levels. Her quiet presence sharpens the question at the heart of Brent's early pastorate: whether a life that looks perfectly arranged can ever feel like his own.

## Relationships

### [Fred Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/fred_brent)

_romantic_

Elizabeth is a sweet, devoted young woman who hopes to marry Fred, but he sees her more as a friend.

### [Tom Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/tom_brent)

_family_

Elizabeth is Tom's sister-in-law, and they share a warm, supportive family bond.

### [Eliphalet Hodges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/eliphalet_hodges)

_social_

Eliphalet knows Elizabeth as a respectable young woman in the congregation, but has little direct involvement with her.

### [Miss Hester Prime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/miss_hester_prime)

_rivalry_

Elizabeth sees Hester as a rival for Fred's affections, leading to jealousy and coolness between them.

### [Fred Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/fred_brent)

_romantic_

Elizabeth is a sweet, devoted young woman who hopes to marry Fred, but he sees her more as a friend.

### [Tom Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/tom_brent)

_family_

Elizabeth is Tom's sister-in-law, and they share a warm, supportive family bond.

### [Fred Brent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/fred_brent)

_romantic_

Elizabeth is a sweet, devoted young woman who hopes to marry Fred, but he sees her more as a friend.

### [Eliphalet Hodges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/eliphalet_hodges)

_social_

Eliphalet knows Elizabeth as a respectable young woman in the congregation, but has little direct involvement with her.

## In the story

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/vii)

Nearly drowns at the picnic; rescued by Fred; her weakness and dependence on Fred deepen his feelings for her.

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

Mentioned as the object of Fred's affection; Fred thinks 'Elizabeth is mine.'

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/ix)

Fred seeks her out after his argument; she supports the preaching plan, which further upsets him.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/x)

Fred's love interest; she is influenced by her father's conservative views, leading to conflict over Fred's baseball game.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xi)

Attends the sermon and feels proud that such a man loves her.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xii)

Visits Fred after the ordination but is turned away by Eliphalet on Fred's behalf.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xiii)

Engaged to Fred; after the confrontation with Mr. Simpson, she is absent from their usual Sunday walk home, suggesting she believed ill of him.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xiv)

Fred dismisses her with mild contempt, believing she could not understand or sympathize with him.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xvi)

Is brought to the funeral by Bill Tompkins.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/elizabeth_simpson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters