The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Character

Bridget

Mrs. Wadman's maid, who has a romantic subplot with Corporal Trim.

minor

Also known as Mrs. Bridget, Mrs. Bridget

First appearance: book ii

Bridget's tie to Corporal Trim is one of the pressures that moves The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

The maid courted by Trim; she is led into the fortifications and falls against the bridge during the accident.

In the storyChapter XXIVOpen this moment free

See Bridget in Chapter XXIV Book page

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With Corporal Trim (romantic): Bridget, Mrs. Wadman's maid, has a flirtatious and likely romantic relationship with Trim, marked by playful courtship. With Uncle Toby (social): Bridget is Mrs. Wadman's maid and occasionally interacts with Toby in the context of his courtship with her mistress. With Mrs. Shandy (professional): Bridget is Mrs. Wadman's maid, and her interactions with Mrs. Shandy are limited to social visits and gossip.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Bridget sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Bridget in book ii

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Bridget sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Shandy Household Core
Narrative and Historical Figures
Wide Cast of Digressions

+15 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage is the dramatic climax because it depicts the precise moment the corporal’s long-standing resista…

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Relationships

Corporal Trim
romantic · positive
Uncle Toby
social · ambivalent
Mrs. Shandy
professional · ambivalent
Corporal Trim
romantic · positive

Corporal Trim
Bridget, Mrs. Wadman's maid, has a flirtatious and likely romantic relationship with Trim, marked by playful courtship.
Uncle Toby
Bridget is Mrs. Wadman's maid and occasionally interacts with Toby in the context of his courtship with her mistress.
Mrs. Shandy
Bridget is Mrs. Wadman's maid, and her interactions with Mrs. Shandy are limited to social visits and gossip.
Corporal Trim
Bridget, Mrs. Wadman's maid, has a flirtatious and likely romantic relationship with Trim, marked by playful courtship.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Bridget in book ii

In the story

Bridget appears across 18 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter XXIV
The maid courted by Trim; she is led into the fortifications and falls against the bridge during the accident.
Chapter XXXIX
Sends an express to Susannah informing her of Uncle Toby's falling in love with Mrs. Wadman.
IV
Her pre-notification of the matter to Susannah set events in motion.
Chapter IX
Mrs. Wadman's maid, who performs the nightly ritual of pinning the night-shift, varying her posture based on her emotions.
Chapter XIV
Bridget mediates between Corporal Trim and Mrs. Wadman in the construction of the wicker-gate.
Chapter XVI
Bridget is mentioned as Mrs. Wadman's helper in rummaging through military furniture, though she does not appear directly in the scene.
Chapter XXVIII
Confers with Mrs. Wadman, suggests the wound may be smaller and dried up, and plans to extract information from Corporal Trim.
The Siege of Widow Wadman
Mentioned as the maid to be attacked in the kitchen by Corporal Trim.
Chapter XVI
Stands perdue within, holding the latch in expectation.
Chapter XVII
Mrs. Bridget is at the latch, about to open the door.
Chapter XXIII
Pawns her honor to get to the bottom of the affair, using Corporal Trim's love for her to extract information.
XXV
Quoted in Tristram's remark about letting others do as they please.
The Eighteenth Chapter
Opens the door for the corporal, setting the scene for Toby's entrance.
Chapter XXVIII
Engages in a flirtatious argument with Trim about the location of Uncle Toby's wound.
Chapter XXIX
Emotionally conflicted, she weeps and eventually confides in Trim after his reassurances.
Chapter XXX
Mentioned as the object of Trim's advantageous actions.
Chapter XXXI
Mentioned as not enquiring after Trim's knee wound, contrasting with her mistress.
Chapter XXXII
Carries her own and her mistress's secret to Susannah behind the garden wall.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Bridget unlock in the free preview.

See Bridget in book ii

See Bridget in Chapter XXIV