# Susannah — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman character guide > Susannah in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Susy **First appearance:** 0004-book-i ## Snapshot The Shandys' maid, midwife's messenger and bearer of the name that sends her mistress into hysterics. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Corporal Trim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/corporal_trim) _romantic_ Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful relationship, often teasing each other. ### [Dr. Slop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/dr_slop) _professional_ Dr. Slop and Susannah interact during Tristram's difficult birth, with Susannah's panic clashing with Slop's incompetence. ### [Uncle Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/uncle_toby) _professional_ Susannah, the Shandy maid, interacts with Toby in the household, often in the chaotic context of Tristram's birth. ### [Corporal Trim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/corporal_trim) _romantic_ Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful relationship, often teasing each other. ### [Corporal Trim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/corporal_trim) _romantic_ Trim and Susannah, the Shandy maid, share a flirtatious and physically playful relationship, often teasing each other. ## In the story ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vi) Is seen running to fetch the old midwife. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiii) Reports the chaotic state of Mrs. Shandy's labour and the midwife's injury. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvii) Susannah, whose stays provide the whalebone for the false bridge. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xii) Passes by with a pincushion and gives a brief, evasive answer about Mrs. Shandy's condition. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiv) Runs to fetch the name, mishears 'Trismegistus' as 'Tristram-gistus,' causing the mischristening. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvi) Reported by Obadiah as sobbing and wringing her hands; she explains the mischristening to Walter. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned as one of the parties responsible for the naming accident, along with the curate. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vii) Reacts to the news by thinking of mourning clothes and weeps at Trim's demonstration. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvi) Takes possession of Mrs. Shandy's green sattin nightgown after family affairs are settled. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvii) Attempts to help Tristram with the window sash, which falls on them, prompting her flight to Uncle Toby's. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) Tells Corporal Trim about the misadventure of the sash and the murder of Tristram. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xx) Would have borne the weight of the attack alone, but Trim chooses not to shelter behind her. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxi) Her story is concluded by Trim at the start of the chapter. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxiii) Mentioned by Trim as being placed in the rear of the procession. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvi) Escapes down the back stairs as Mrs. Shandy comes up the fore, and leaves the story in shorthand with the cook. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/iii) Quarrels with Dr. Slop over decorum and holding the candle, sets his wig on fire, and exchanges insults. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/iv) Files a crossbill against Dr. Slop and assists in preparing the fomentation. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiii) Susannah's accident is mentioned as occurring about six weeks before Le Fever's letter arrived. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiv) Her accident is the subject of Dr. Slop's exaggeration and subsequent rumors. ### [Chapter XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxix) Receives advance news of Uncle Toby's courtship from Bridget and relays it to Mrs. Shandy. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/iv) Received Bridget's pre-notification and issued repeated manifestoes to all the world. ### [Chapter XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxii) Receives the secret from Bridget and spreads it by signs to Jonathan. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/endnotes) Not directly mentioned in these excerpts. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/susannah - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters