The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman · Character

Susannah

The Shandys' maid, midwife's messenger and bearer of the name that sends her mistress into hysterics.

supporting

Also known as Susy

First appearance: book i

As a supporting figure in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Susannah is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Is seen running to fetch the old midwife.

In the storyChapter VIOpen this moment free

See Susannah in Chapter VI Book page

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Susannah stands at the crossroads of the household's worst moments, dispatched to fetch help and returning with news no one wants. When the child is christened Tristram, she protests that she told them it was Tristram-gistus, and her mistress collapses. Caught between her master's theories and her mistress's nerves, she is the practical witness through whom the family's grand misfortunes arrive as gossip, tears, and tea.

Continue beside the text

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

See Susannah in book i

Character Web

17 connections

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

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Shandy Household Core
Narrative and Historical Figures
Wide Cast of Digressions

+12 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
Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful… How this plays out →
Dr. Slop
professional · negative
Uncle Toby
professional · ambivalent
Corporal Trim
romantic · positive
Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful… How this plays out →
Corporal Trim
romantic · positive
Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful… How this plays out →

Corporal Trim
Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful relationship, often teasing each other.
Dr. Slop
Dr. Slop and Susannah interact during Tristram's difficult birth, with Susannah's panic clashing with Slop's incompetence.
Uncle Toby
Susannah, the Shandy maid, interacts with Toby in the household, often in the chaotic context of Tristram's birth.
Corporal Trim
Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful relationship, often teasing each other.
Corporal Trim
Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful relationship, often teasing each other.

Relationship notes

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

See Susannah in book i

In the story

Susannah appears across 25 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter VI
Is seen running to fetch the old midwife.
Chapter XIII
Reports the chaotic state of Mrs. Shandy's labour and the midwife's injury.
Chapter XXVII
Susannah, whose stays provide the whalebone for the false bridge.
Chapter XII
Passes by with a pincushion and gives a brief, evasive answer about Mrs. Shandy's condition.
Chapter XIV
Runs to fetch the name, mishears 'Trismegistus' as 'Tristram-gistus,' causing the mischristening.
Chapter XVI
Reported by Obadiah as sobbing and wringing her hands; she explains the mischristening to Walter.
Chapter XVIII
Mentioned as one of the parties responsible for the naming accident, along with the curate.
Chapter VII
Reacts to the news by thinking of mourning clothes and weeps at Trim's demonstration.
Chapter IX
Weeps at Trim's words, places her hand on his shoulder, and expresses admiration for his talk.
The Kitchen Conference on Death and Toby's Kindness
Interrupts Trim's reflections, comments on death being most natural in bed, pities Mrs. Shandy, and asks Trim to tell the story of Le Fever.
XVI
Takes possession of Mrs. Shandy's green sattin nightgown after family affairs are settled.
Chapter XVII
Attempts to help Tristram with the window sash, which falls on them, prompting her flight to Uncle Toby's.
Chapter XVIII
Tells Corporal Trim about the misadventure of the sash and the murder of Tristram.
Chapter XX
Would have borne the weight of the attack alone, but Trim chooses not to shelter behind her.
Chapter XXI
Her story is concluded by Trim at the start of the chapter.
Chapter XXIII
Mentioned by Trim as being placed in the rear of the procession.
Chapter XXVI
Escapes down the back stairs as Mrs. Shandy comes up the fore, and leaves the story in shorthand with the cook.
Chapter III
Quarrels with Dr. Slop over decorum and holding the candle, sets his wig on fire, and exchanges insults.
Chapter IV
Files a crossbill against Dr. Slop and assists in preparing the fomentation.
Chapter XIII
Susannah's accident is mentioned as occurring about six weeks before Le Fever's letter arrived.
Chapter XIV
Her accident is the subject of Dr. Slop's exaggeration and subsequent rumors.
Chapter XXXIX
Receives advance news of Uncle Toby's courtship from Bridget and relays it to Mrs. Shandy.
IV
Received Bridget's pre-notification and issued repeated manifestoes to all the world.
Chapter XXXII
Receives the secret from Bridget and spreads it by signs to Jonathan.
Endnotes
Not directly mentioned in these excerpts.

Chapter companion notes

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

See Susannah in book i

See Susannah in Chapter VI