# Marie Melmotte — The Way We Live Now character guide > Marie Melmotte in The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Marie, Melmotte, poor Marie **First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-carbury-family ## Snapshot The heiress whom every fortune hunter in London wants and whose own father treats her as a bargaining chip, she clings to the one lover who might free her. ## Who they are Marie is small, plain, and overwhelmed by the position her father's wealth has thrust upon her, with no real mother and a papa who beats her when she disobeys. She pours her trust into Felix Carbury with a desperate, unguarded eagerness, insisting that her money is hers to give and that love should make anything possible. She matters because her rebellion against Melmotte turns the marriage market into a battlefield, and because her loneliness makes the novel's glittering world look suddenly cruel. ## Relationships ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Marie is passionately in love with Felix and agrees to elope with him, despite his obvious interest in her fortune. ### [Lord Nidderdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/lord_nidderdale) _romantic_ Lord Nidderdale courts Marie for her money, but she finds him dull compared to the dashing Felix. ### [Lord Nidderdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/lord_nidderdale) _romantic_ Lord Nidderdale courts Marie for her money, but she finds him dull compared to the dashing Felix. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Marie is passionately in love with Felix and agrees to elope with him, despite his obvious interest in her fortune. ### [Lord Nidderdale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/lord_nidderdale) _romantic_ Lord Nidderdale courts Marie for her money, but she finds him dull compared to the dashing Felix. ### [Sir Felix Carbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/sir_felix_carbury) _romantic_ Marie is passionately in love with Felix and agrees to elope with him, despite his obvious interest in her fortune. ## In the story ### [The Beargarden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/iii-the-beargarden) Discussed as a potential marriage target for Felix; described as neither pretty nor plain, neither clever nor stupid. ### [Madame Melmotte's Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/iv-madame-melmotte-s-ball) Dances with Sir Felix Carbury and enjoys the ball; begins to develop her own opinions about suitors. ### [Mentor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/vii-mentor) Mentioned as the heiress Felix hopes to marry. ### [Lady Carbury at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xi-lady-carbury-at-home) Attends the party, reflects on her troubled past and her attraction to Sir Felix. ### [Sir Felix in His Mother's House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xii-sir-felix-in-his-mother-s-house) The heiress Felix is courting; she reportedly told him to speak to her father about marriage. ### [You Should Remember That I Am His Mother.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xv-you-should-remember-that-i-am-his-mother) The heiress Felix hopes to marry; staying at Caversham with the Longestaffes. ### [Marie Melmotte Hears a Love Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xvii-marie-melmotte-hears-a-love-tale) Accepts Felix's proposal, feeling genuine love and envisioning a bright future, though Felix is insincere. ### [Lady Pomona’s Dinner Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xx-lady-pomona-s-dinner-party) Sits next to Sir Felix at dinner, tells him she has informed her mother of their engagement, and expresses determination to follow through despite her father's potential objections. ### [Yes;—I'm a Baronet.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxiii-yes-i-m-a-baronet) Directs Felix to her father's book-room and arranges a secret note exchange via Madame Didon; shows determination to advance the marriage. ### [In Grosvenor Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxv-in-grosvenor-square) Dissatisfied with Sir Felix's letter, she reflects on her growing independence and determination to love him. ### [Dolly Longestaffe Goes Into the City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxviii-dolly-longestaffe-goes-into-the-city) Writes a passionate letter to Felix, expressing her devotion and frustration with her father's schemes, but Felix is unmoved. ### [Miss Melmotte's Courage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxix-miss-melmotte-s-courage) Writes to Felix proposing elopement and seizure of her settlement; boldly declares her love for Felix in front of her mother, refusing to marry Lord Nidderdale. ### [Mr. Melmotte's Promise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxx-mr-melmotte-s-promise) Described as the heiress engaged to Felix, with her father threatening disinheritance if she marries him. ### [Melmotte's Glory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxxv-melmotte-s-glory) Defies her father by refusing Lord Nidderdale and declaring her attachment to Sir Felix Carbury. ### [All Prepared](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xli-all-prepared) Dissatisfied with Sir Felix's hesitation, she actively plans their elopement to New York, showing resourcefulness and determination. ### [Sir Felix Makes Himself Ready](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xlix-sir-felix-makes-himself-ready) Eagerly arranges the elopement, providing a cheque and detailed instructions for the journey to New York. ### [The Journey to Liverpool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/l-the-journey-to-liverpool) Attempts to elope to New York with Sir Felix Carbury, but is intercepted at Liverpool station and brought back to London by her father's agents. ### [The Results of Love and Wine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lii-the-results-of-love-and-wine) Attempted to elope with Felix; traveled to Liverpool and was met by police; Felix failed to join her. ### [The India Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/liv-the-india-office) Marie is present at the India Office with her mother, noted as a curiosity due to her attempted elopement to New York. She is left in the background while Melmotte pushes forward. ### [Lord Nidderdale Tries His Hand Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lvii-lord-nidderdale-tries-his-hand-again) Defends her feelings for Sir Felix and resists Nidderdale's advances, but is anxious about her future and the potential collapse of her father's affairs. ### [The Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxii-the-party) Accompanies her mother in the carriage after the party. ### [The Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxiv-the-election) Defiantly refuses to be forced into marriage with Lord Nidderdale, stating that flogging will not make her obey. ### [Miss Melmotte Declares Her Purpose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxviii-miss-melmotte-declares-her-purpose) Desperate and defiant, she confesses her love for Felix and her willingness to risk everything, revealing her abusive home life and her determination to control her own fate. ### [Marie's Fortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxiii-marie-s-fortune) Defies her father, refusing to sign away her fortune and asserting that it will belong to her future husband. ### [Melmotte Makes a Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxiv-melmotte-makes-a-friend) Accepts Nidderdale's proposal without love, viewing it as a transaction, and reveals her past love for Sir Felix Carbury and her current disillusionment. ### [Another Scene in Bruton Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxvii-another-scene-in-bruton-street) Defies her father, refusing to sign the papers despite threats and physical intimidation. ### [LXXXII: Marie's Perseverance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxxii-marie-s-perseverance) Visits Lady Carbury to renew her engagement with Sir Felix, insisting on her love and the security of her fortune despite her father's ruin. ### [Breakfast in Berkeley Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxxv-breakfast-in-berkeley-square) Sends a note to Nidderdale via the butler after learning of her father's death. ### [The Meeting in Bruton Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxxvi-the-meeting-in-bruton-street) Shows remarkable composure after her father's suicide, taking charge of the household and sending for Lord Nidderdale for practical help. ### [The Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/lxxxviii-the-inquest) Removed to lodgings in Hampstead with her mother after Melmotte's death, assisted by Lord Nidderdale and Herr Croll. ### [Hamilton K. Fisker Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcii-hamilton-k-fisker-again) Still in possession of her fortune, finds consolation in Fisker's visits, and discusses managing her money in California. ### [Where "The Wild Asses Quench Their Thirst"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcvi-where-the-wild-asses-quench-their-thirst) Mentioned as marrying Fisker; Nidderdale expresses lingering fondness for her. ### [Marie Melmotte's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcviii-marie-melmotte-s-fate) Now living in Hampstead with Madame Melmotte, Marie has become a shrewd businesswoman, securing her inheritance and managing her affairs with Fisker's help. She agrees to a conditional engagement with Fisker, but remains cautious and independent. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters/marie_melmotte - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/characters