The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

by

Anne Brontë

Mary Millward Character Analysis

The older daughter of the Reverend Michael Millward and sister of Eliza Millward, Mary tended her mother in her final years. Stouter and less graceful than Eliza, it is initially Gilbert’s perception that Mary is beloved by her father, old people, and children, and unvalued by everyone else. Gilbert discovers his error when, at the close of the novel, she marries Richard Wilson, with whom she had been secretly engaged for some time.
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Mary Millward Character Timeline in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

The timeline below shows where the character Mary Millward appears in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1. A Discovery
Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards Theme Icon
Christian Faith and Morality Theme Icon
...village of Linden-Car’s main inhabitants, Gilbert continues sketching the characters of the churchgoers around him. Mary, Eliza’s sister, is beloved by her father, children, animals, and old people (Gilbert writes), but... (full context)
Chapter 2. An Interview
Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards Theme Icon
Christian Faith and Morality Theme Icon
...Millward home, Gilbert finds Eliza at work on a piece of embroidery, and her sister Mary mending stockings. Eliza is in a good mood and she and Gilbert flirt with each... (full context)
Chapter 4. The Party
Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards Theme Icon
Love and Marriage Theme Icon
Everyone that Gilbert introduced Jack to in his first letter—Eliza, Mary, and the Reverend Milward;  Jane, Richard, Robert, and Mrs. Wilson; and Mr. Lawrence—have come to... (full context)
Chapter 7. The Excursion
Love and Marriage Theme Icon
...and everything is verdant and lovely. The party consists of Gilbert, Fergus, and Rose Markham; Mary and Eliza Millward; Richard Wilson; and Arthur (Jr.) and Helen Graham. Gilbert tried to persuade... (full context)
Love and Marriage Theme Icon
Work and Idleness Theme Icon
...so far as to take his advice. They walk back to the lunch spot, where Mary is watching over little Arthur with Richard Wilson, who is absorbed in an academic text... (full context)
Chapter 9. A Snake in the Grass
Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards Theme Icon
Love and Marriage Theme Icon
...to see that the reverend is out. He has to content himself with Eliza and Mary. Infatuated now with Helen Graham, he has grown to despise Eliza, who seems that day... (full context)
Chapter 48. Further Intelligence
Love and Marriage Theme Icon
Work and Idleness Theme Icon
...a blameless and upstanding woman. Rose is particularly gratified to hear Helen’s story, as is Mary Millward, whom Helen had always valued, in spite of her plainness. Gilbert is happy to... (full context)
Love and Marriage Theme Icon
...flashes forward somewhat in this letter to Halford, updating him on Richard and the former Miss Millward , who are now living in another vicarage where they are both well loved by... (full context)