# Lady Southdown — Vanity Fair character guide

> Lady Southdown in Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the strong-minded Lady Southdown, old Southdown, my Lady Southdown

**First appearance:** 0045-xlv-between-hampshire-and-london

## Who they are

Pious, domineering mother of Lady Jane who meddles in the Crawley household.

## In the story

### [In Which Miss Crawley’s Relations Are Very Anxious About Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiii-in-which-miss-crawley-s-relations-are-very-anxious-about-her)

A strong-minded evangelical dowager, she imposes her spiritual and medical remedies on Pitt and plans to convert Miss Crawley.

### [James Crawley's Pipe Is Put Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiv-james-crawley-s-pipe-is-put-out)

Dominates the Crawley household after the marriage, dosing everyone with tracts and medicine and stripping Miss Crawley of authority.

### [XL: In Which Becky Is Recognized by the Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xl-in-which-becky-is-recognized-by-the-family)

Clashes with Pitt over inviting Becky to the funeral, threatens to leave the house.

### [In Which Becky Revisits the Halls of Her Ancestors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xli-in-which-becky-revisits-the-halls-of-her-ancestors)

Remains at Queen's Crawley, maintaining a solemn and stony silence, later victimized by Becky's mockery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters/lady_southdown
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/characters