# Mrs. Hester Hodges — The Uncalled character guide

> Mrs. Hester Hodges in The Uncalled by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Aunt Hester, Mrs. Hodges

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

Eliphalet's wife and Fred's "Aunt Hester," she lectures him on duty and counts baseball playing among the sins unfit for a future minister.

## Who they are

Mrs. Hodges runs her household with a firm moral ledger, lumping baseball with dancing as idle wastes of a preacher's precious time. She welcomes Fred into her home and frets over his soul, but her well-meant lectures only deepen the gap between the life others have planned for him and the life he dreads. Her husband's silent sympathy stands in quiet contrast to her spoken expectations.

## Relationships

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

_family_

Hester is the daughter of Mrs. Hester Hodges, sharing a close but strained bond due to family secrets.

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

_family_

Mrs. Hodges is Fred's biological mother, though he does not know this, creating a tragic hidden connection.

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

_family_

Eliphalet is Mrs. Hodges' brother-in-law, and their relationship is marked by shared secrets and mutual disapproval.

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

_family_

Mrs. Hodges is Tom's mother, and their relationship is loving but overshadowed by her past mistakes.

### [Melissy Davis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/melissy_davis)

_social_

Melissy is a neighbor and acquaintance of Mrs. Hodges, sharing local news and modest friendship.

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

_family_

Hester is the daughter of Mrs. Hester Hodges, sharing a close but strained bond due to family secrets.

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

_family_

Mrs. Hodges is Fred's biological mother, though he does not know this, creating a tragic hidden connection.

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

_family_

Eliphalet is Mrs. Hodges' brother-in-law, and their relationship is marked by shared secrets and mutual disapproval.

### [Melissy Davis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/characters/melissy_davis)

_social_

Melissy is a neighbor and acquaintance of Mrs. Hodges, sharing local news and modest friendship.

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

_family_

Hester is the daughter of Mrs. Hester Hodges, sharing a close but strained bond due to family secrets.

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

_family_

Mrs. Hodges is Tom's mother, and their relationship is loving but overshadowed by her past mistakes.

## In the story

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

Fred's guardian who criticizes his baseball playing as unfitting for a future minister.

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

Lectures Fred on his duty and later questions her husband's advice.

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

Plans the ordination dinner and tries to force Fred to appear, but is shocked when he asserts his will and refuses.

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

Grows more primly genial as her ambitions are satisfied by Fred's apparent contentment.

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

Grieves deeply over Fred's departure, feeling her life's work and pride have been shattered.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xv)

Referenced as the internalized voice of restraint that Fred cannot escape, even in her absence.

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

Initially wanted to send Tom Brent away, but is now bowed and bids Fred goodbye at the door.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_uncalled_se/chapters/xvii)

Reluctant to keep Fred's whereabouts secret, but respects his wishes; refuses to travel, worried about new experiences.

## Links

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