# Mrs. Lehntman — Three Lives character guide

> Mrs. Lehntman in Three Lives by Gertrude Stein.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the widow Mrs. Lehntman

**First appearance:** 0002-the-good-anna

## Snapshot

A magnetic midwife whose generous charm draws the good Anna into a devoted friendship that quietly drains Anna's savings and her independence.

## Who they are

Mrs. Lehntman is a widow and midwife in Bridgepoint whose warmth and easy generosity make her irresistible to the loyal Anna, who is soon entirely subdued by her sympathetic charm. She takes in young girls in trouble, cares for them in secret, and lets them pay her back slowly — a kindness that also keeps her perpetually short of money and quietly dependent on Anna's savings. Through her, Anna's world widens and her health begins to fail, making Mrs. Lehntman the story's most seductive and most costly attachment.

## In the story

### [The Good Anna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/three_lives_se/chapters/the-good-anna)

A widow who becomes a significant figure in Anna's life, offering a different kind of relationship.

### [II: The Life of the Good Anna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/three_lives_se/chapters/ii-the-life-of-the-good-anna)

Anna's friend, a widow and midwife, who later becomes involved with a mysterious doctor and falls into disgrace.

### [III: The Death of the Good Anna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/three_lives_se/chapters/iii-the-death-of-the-good-anna)

Anna sees her rarely now; their friendship has faded due to past disillusionment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/three_lives_se/characters/mrs_lehntman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/three_lives_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/three_lives_se/characters