# Grammer Oliver — The Woodlanders character guide

> Grammer Oliver in The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Grammer, Old Grammer Oliver

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

The Melburys' ancient servant, who has coolly sold her own skull to the young doctor and now haunts the household as a walking omen of what science will pay for.

## Who they are

She is old Hintock incarnate — full of dreams, portents, and a bargain with Fitzpiers that she recounts with grisly cheer. Her compact gives Grace a first, chilling image of the doctor as a remorseless anatomist, coloring the girl's whole approach to him. Superstitious, matter-of-fact, and unbothered by her own mortality, she turns the village's fear of the new medicine into something almost comic and entirely unsettling.

## Relationships

### [Grace Melbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters/grace_melbury)

_social_

Grammer Oliver is an elderly servant in the Melbury household, interacting with Grace in a familiar, domestic capacity.

### [Felice Charmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters/felice_charmond)

_social_

Felice Charmond and Grammer Oliver are acquaintances in the village, with occasional interactions due to proximity.

### [Grace Melbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters/grace_melbury)

_social_

Grammer Oliver is an elderly servant in the Melbury household, interacting with Grace in a familiar, domestic capacity.

### [Felice Charmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters/felice_charmond)

_social_

Felice Charmond and Grammer Oliver are acquaintances in the village, with occasional interactions due to proximity.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/iv)

The Melburys' servant; brings breakfast to the workmen and comments on Melbury's anxiety.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/vi)

Reveals to Grace that Dr. Fitzpiers has offered her ten pounds for her body after death for anatomical study, a secret she asks Grace to keep.

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

Grammer Oliver announces that Mrs. Charmond is leaving for foreign parts, ending Grace's chance to travel with her.

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

Lies ill, tormented by her agreement to sell her brain to Fitzpiers; she manipulates Grace into helping her.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xviii)

Though not present, her bargain with Fitzpiers is the central subject of the chapter; Grace acts on her behalf to cancel the agreement.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxiii)

Grammer Oliver is heard pumping water in the back kitchen during Fitzpiers's visit, adding to Grace's embarrassment.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxv)

Brings the message summoning Fitzpiers to Mrs. Charmond.

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xliv)

Brings Grace the phial left by Fitzpiers.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters/grammer_oliver
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woodlanders_se/characters