# Mary Bold — The Warden character guide

> Mary Bold in The Warden by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mary, Poor Mary Bold, Bold, poor old Bell, Bell

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-barchester-reformer

## Snapshot

John Bold's elder sister, past thirty and quietly indispensable, who loves Eleanor Harding well enough to see what no one says aloud.

## Who they are

Mary Bold moves through Barchester as her brother's steadying companion and Eleanor's closest confidante, the kind of woman whom casual acquaintances overlook and intimate friends love more the longer they know her. When John's crusade against Hiram's Hospital threatens to poison the very house where his heart lives, Mary is the first he tells and the one who must weigh loyalty to him against loyalty to Eleanor. Her sweet temper and high principle make her the quiet hinge on which the novel's tangled affections turn.

## Relationships

### [Eleanor Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/eleanor_harding)

_friendship_

Eleanor and Mary are close friends and confidantes, with Mary supporting Eleanor through her romantic and family troubles.

### [John Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/john_bold)

_family_

John and Mary are siblings, and Mary often acts as a mediator and moral support for John.

### [Mr. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mr_harding)

_friendship_

Mary Bold respects Mr. Harding and acts as a gentle bridge between him and her brother John.

### [Dr. Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/dr_grantly)

_social_

Dr. Grantly and Mary Bold are polite acquaintances, with Mary avoiding his confrontational nature.

### [John Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/john_bold)

_family_

John and Mary are siblings, and Mary often acts as a mediator and moral support for John.

### [Eleanor Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/eleanor_harding)

_friendship_

Eleanor and Mary are close friends and confidantes, with Mary supporting Eleanor through her romantic and family troubles.

### [Dr. Grantly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/dr_grantly)

_social_

Dr. Grantly and Mary Bold are polite acquaintances, with Mary avoiding his confrontational nature.

### [Mr. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mr_harding)

_friendship_

Mary Bold respects Mr. Harding and acts as a gentle bridge between him and her brother John.

### [John Bold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/john_bold)

_family_

John and Mary are siblings, and Mary often acts as a mediator and moral support for John.

### [Eleanor Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/eleanor_harding)

_friendship_

Eleanor and Mary are close friends and confidantes, with Mary supporting Eleanor through her romantic and family troubles.

### [Mr. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mr_harding)

_friendship_

Mary Bold respects Mr. Harding and acts as a gentle bridge between him and her brother John.

## In the story

### [The Barchester Reformer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/ii-the-barchester-reformer)

John Bold's sister, who lives with him and helps manage his household.

### [VI: The Warden's Tea Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/vi-the-warden-s-tea-party)

Pleads with her brother to reconsider his reform campaign and attends the party alone.

### [X: Tribulation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/x-tribulation)

Eleanor visits her daily; they discuss their respective family troubles and John Bold's activities.

### [XI: Iphigenia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/xi-iphigenia)

Supports Eleanor's mission; urges her brother to grant Eleanor's request; facilitates the romantic encounter by leaving the room.

### [Mr. Bold's Visit to Plumstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/chapters/xii-mr-bold-s-visit-to-plumstead)

Mentioned as Eleanor's confidante; Eleanor feels betrayed by Mary for not allowing her to leave the room during Bold's proposal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters/mary_bold
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_warden_se/characters