# Mary Thriplow — Those Barren Leaves character guide > Mary Thriplow in Those Barren Leaves by Aldous Huxley. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Thriplow, Mary, Miss Mary, Miss Mary Thriplow, Etty **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-an-evening-at-mrs-aldwinkle-s ## Snapshot A young novelist whose calculated modernity and sincere craving for love keep colliding, especially under Mr. Cardan's merciless, amused scrutiny. ## Who they are Mary Thriplow performs the role of the advanced, unprejudiced modern woman until Cardan's outrageous talk makes her retreat into the prim serious novelist with a good heart. She wants her books read as tragedy and tenderness, not merely cleverness, and she wants Calamy to love her without her having to surrender her pride. Her shifting selves—salamander, primrose, martyr, supplicant—make her the novel's most painfully funny study of a woman negotiating art, appetite, and self-respect. ## In the story ### [Part I: An Evening at Mrs. Aldwinkle’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/part-i-an-evening-at-mrs-aldwinkle-s) Among the guests, participating in the evening's social exchanges. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/i) Anxiously prepares for Calamy's visit, adopting a fashionable disguise based on Mrs. Aldwinkle's descriptions, then quickly pivots to an earnest persona when she senses his disdain for worldliness. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ii) Accompanies Calamy and Mrs. Aldwinkle, trying to atone for having been alone with Calamy by showing rapt attention to Mrs. Aldwinkle's lecture. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iii) Engages in the conversation, agreeing with Mrs. Aldwinkle and adding a witty remark about sausages; forgets her convent school persona momentarily. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iv) Makes a joke about stars being like Italian tenors, then quickly tries to correct the impression by praising Bellini and linking melody to the landscape. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/v) Expresses frustration that readers see only the cynicism in her work, not the underlying seriousness and heart. She is self-conscious about her earlier performance for Mr. Cardan and now tries to project a childlike, earnest image. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vii) Accompanies Mrs. Aldwinkle upstairs; finds Calamy 'very intelligent'. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ix) Writes in her diary to Jim, wrestling with self-doubt about the authenticity of her grief. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/vii) Dressed in a green frock; comments on Chelifer's poetry, calling it 'a little alembicated'. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as a potential object of Chelifer's interest, but Irene finds no evidence of intimacy between them. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iii) Engages Calamy in a philosophical discussion about happiness and love, provoking him into a passionate kiss. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/v) Accompanies Cardan, hoping for serious talk about her own problems; makes mental notes about 'positive and negative living' for a possible article. ### [Mrs. Chelifer's Arrival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/x) Admires Mrs. Chelifer as a 'lesson' in goodness and simplicity; contrasts her with Grace Elver. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/xii) Writes in her secret notebook about emotional impotence, emotional snobbery, and her relationship with Calamy. She is self-aware of her own emotional subnormality and seeks intense experiences. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/xiii) The object of Calamy's desire; he imagines her lying in his arms, and his thoughts of her torment him as he struggles with his decision to visit her. ### [Part IV: The Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/part-iv-the-journey) Engages in conversations about art and higher life, reflecting on the meaning of the journey. ### [Part V: Conclusions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/part-v-conclusions) Involved in the concluding events, reflecting on art and the higher life. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/i) Listens attentively to Calamy's philosophical musings but becomes emotionally vulnerable, expressing insecurity about his love and feeling like an obstacle to his intellectual pursuits. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/ii) Found alone at the palace, explains Calamy's retreat to the mountains and discusses the hermit's life with Mr. Cardan. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/chapters/iii) Engages in deep spiritual reflection, writing in her secret notebook about mysticism and prayer, but struggles to maintain focus as her mind drifts to everyday distractions. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/characters/miss_thriplow - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/those_barren_leaves_se/characters