# Molly Stark Wood — The Virginian character guide > Molly Stark Wood in The Virginian by Owen Wister. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Mary Stark Wood, Molly Stark, Molly, the old Molly Stark, the young Molly, Stark, Miss Molly Stark Wood **First appearance:** 0007-v-enter-the-woman ## Snapshot A proud New England gentlewoman who teaches piano and embroiders handkerchiefs after her family's mills fail, refusing the safe suitor everyone expects her to marry. ## Who they are Molly Stark Wood belongs to a Vermont family that has always lived like gentlefolk, until the mills fail and she must earn her bread teaching music and making preserves. Bennington gossips are scandalized that she works for money yet still holds herself above Sam Bannett, the rising young man they consider good enough for anybody. Restless and quietly stubborn, she writes to Mrs. Balaam about migrating west to Bear Creek, and it is this decision that carries her into the Virginian's world. ## Relationships ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _romantic_ Molly and the Virginian are lovers whose deep affection is tested by cultural differences and the harshness of frontier life. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _rivalry_ Balaam and Molly are antagonists, as she despises his cruelty to animals and his immoral character. ### [Edward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/edward) _family_ Edward is Molly's younger brother, and she cares for him protectively, especially after their parents' death. ### [Monte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/monte) _friendship_ Monte is Molly's horse, and she shares a deep, affectionate bond with him, often riding him across the plains. ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _romantic_ Molly and the Virginian are lovers whose deep affection is tested by cultural differences and the harshness of frontier life. ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _romantic_ Molly and the Virginian are lovers whose deep affection is tested by cultural differences and the harshness of frontier life. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _rivalry_ Balaam and Molly are antagonists, as she despises his cruelty to animals and his immoral character. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _rivalry_ Balaam and Molly are antagonists, as she despises his cruelty to animals and his immoral character. ### [Edward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/edward) _family_ Edward is Molly's younger brother, and she cares for him protectively, especially after their parents' death. ### [Monte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/monte) _friendship_ Monte is Molly's horse, and she shares a deep, affectionate bond with him, often riding him across the plains. ### [Edward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/edward) _family_ Edward is Molly's younger brother, and she cares for him protectively, especially after their parents' death. ### [Monte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/monte) _friendship_ Monte is Molly's horse, and she shares a deep, affectionate bond with him, often riding him across the plains. ## In the story ### [V: Enter the Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/v-enter-the-woman) Introduced through her letter to Mrs. Balaam; her free and witty writing captivates the Virginian. ### [The Sincere Spinster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/viii-the-sincere-spinster) Revealed to be twenty-one years old, proud of her descent from Molly Stark, independent and hardworking after family financial ruin, rejects Sam Bannett, and decides to move to Bear Creek. ### [The Spinster Meets the Unknown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/ix-the-spinster-meets-the-unknown) Leaves Bennington for Wyoming, determined to be independent and embrace the unknown. ### [X: Where Fancy Was Bred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/x-where-fancy-was-bred) The schoolmarm is the subject of gossip about her many suitors; she dances with various married men and deliberately ignores the Virginian at the dance. ### [XI: “You’re Going to Love Me Before We Get Through”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xi-you-re-going-to-love-me-before-we-get-through) Receives the Virginian's visit at her cabin. Engages in a battle of wits with him, showing both haughtiness and interest. Dreams of him that night. ### [XII: Quality and Equality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xii-quality-and-equality) Receives books from home, teaches school, and debates equality with the Virginian while struggling with her feelings for him. ### [XVIII: "Would You Be a Parson?"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xviii-would-you-be-a-parson) Arrives at Sunk Creek with Judge Henry's party, observed by the narrator. ### [XIX: Dr. Macbride Begs Pardon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xix-dr-macbride-begs-pardon) Present at the dinner, she engages the narrator in witty commentary about Dr. MacBride and shows interest in the Virginian's story. ### [XXI: In a State of Sin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxi-in-a-state-of-sin) Molly jokes about Dr. MacBride's sermon text and displays her independent spirit, teasing the Virginian with a lighthearted remark about never liking any man better than him. ### [XXII: “What Is a Rustler?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxii-what-is-a-rustler) Visits Sunk Creek Ranch, spends time with the Ogdens, and decides to travel East with them. In Bennington, she reunites with family and rejects Sam Bannett's suit. Her great-aunt discerns her feelings for the Virginian. ### [A Letter with a Moral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxiv-a-letter-with-a-moral) Receives and reads the Virginian's letter, reacting with deep emotion and conflict. ### [Grandmother Stark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvii-grandmother-stark) Packs her cabin to leave Wyoming, rides out in distress, discovers the wounded Virginian, and nurses him while grappling with her feelings. ### [XXVIII: No Dream to Wake from](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxviii-no-dream-to-wake-from) Returns to find the Virginian standing; she helps him back to his chair and shares an intimate moment with him. ### [Word to Bennington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxix-word-to-bennington) Anxious about introducing the Virginian to her family and Bennington society; fears he will be judged unfairly. ### [The Spinster Loses Some Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-spinster-loses-some-sleep) Engages in a tense debate with Judge Henry about lynching, feeling both love and shrinking toward her lover after learning of the hanging. ### [To Fit Her Finger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiv-to-fit-her-finger) Insists on marrying in Wyoming, hides a frozen spot in her heart due to her mother's silence, and secretly longs for her mother as the wedding approaches. ### [With Malice Aforethought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxv-with-malice-aforethought) Feels lonely and hurt by the Virginian's secrecy, but tries to hide her feelings; she senses the danger and attempts to understand his world. ### [At Dunbarton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxvi-at-dunbarton) Rides with the Virginian into the mountains, helps make camp, and later marries him; she misses their Bear Creek days but enjoys their life together. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/molly_stark_wood - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters