Matilda Murray Character Analysis in Agnes Grey

Matilda, younger sister to Rosalie Murray, is one of Agnes’s students in her second governess position. Fourteen years old when Agnes arrives in the Murray household, Matilda is a thorough tomboy, who loves riding, hunting, and repeating the curse words that she has learned from her father Mr. Murray and his grooms. Although Matilda’s unladylike behavior predates Agnes’s employment with the Murrays, Matilda’s mother Mrs. Murray nevertheless blames Agnes for not using flattery to make Matilda behave in a more feminine manner.

Matilda Murray Quotes in Agnes Grey

The Agnes Grey quotes below are all either spoken by Matilda Murray or refer to Matilda Murray. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Education, Authority, and Class Theme Icon

“Tilly, though she would have made a fine lad, was not quite what a young lady ought to be[.]”

Related Characters: Mr. Murray (speaker), Agnes Grey, Rosalie Murray, Matilda Murray, Mrs. Murray, Sir Thomas Ashby

Page Number and Citation: 117

Explanation and Analysis:

Matilda Murray Character Timeline in Agnes Grey

The timeline below shows where the character Matilda Murray appears in Agnes Grey. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...new students, two teenage girls and two boys. The younger girl, a tomboyish 14-year-old named Matilda, shows her to her room. No one brings up Agnes’s luggage, however, until she goes... (full context)

Matilda, Rosalie’s tomboyish younger sister, is rather large and awkward—but doesn’t care that she isn’t pretty... (full context)

...worst seat in the carriage, which makes her feel sick all through church services. Once, Matilda exclaims how strange it is that the carriage makes Agnes sick when it doesn’t make... (full context)

...the boys leave for school—Agnes feels that she is able to make small improvements with Matilda and Rosalie, who think she is a strange and sometimes annoying do-gooder but nevertheless entertaining... (full context)

After church, Harry Meltham hands Rosalie and Matilda into their carriage—but not Agnes, though he doesn’t shut the door in her face either.... (full context)

Agnes now teaches Rosalie only German and drawing; Matilda is her sole full-time student. With her free time, Agnes writes letters, studies, and takes... (full context)

...new and improving to think about and has worried that socializing only with Rosalie and Matilda was likely to make her a worse person as their flaws rubbed off on her.... (full context)

In mid-March, when Agnes has a free moment while Matilda is going for a ride and Rosalie is socially busy, she decides to visit Nancy... (full context)

...Weston says goodbye and leaves. A while later, Agnes leaves too. Back at Horton Lodge, Matilda complains that the rain cut her ride short, but Agnes wasn’t at home to make... (full context)

...taking the carriage to allow her acquaintances to accompany her. Agnes walks with Rosalie and Matilda or takes the carriage depending on the girls’ whims. Agnes dislikes walking with Rosalie and... (full context)

...she also feels rather awkward. As they resume walking, Mr. Weston notes that Rosalie and Matilda have left Agnes alone and them asks Agnes about her favorite flowers. She explains that... (full context)

...Weston when Rosalie criticizes him. Agnes tells Rosalie not to be silly. When Rosalie and Matilda keep teasing Agnes, she exclaims that this was only the second time she’d talked to... (full context)

The next day after Matilda has finished her lessons, Agnes is painting a watercolor in the schoolroom at Rosalie’s request... (full context)

...Murray rushes into the schoolroom and asks why Agnes isn’t out walking with Rosalie and Matilda. When Agnes points out that Matilda is with the other dogs and Rosalie is reading,... (full context)

...count because Agnes won’t repeat the story, Agnes says that Rosalie is going to tell Matilda—and then the story will be everywhere. Agnes gets Rosalie to agree not to tell her... (full context)

...Agnes says that her governess job makes that hard. Mr. Weston asks whether Rosalie and Matilda aren’t her friends, and Agnes says no—they have other friends they prefer. (full context)

...Weston could hear Rosalie’s talk. The next day, Rosalie comes into the schoolroom and demands Matilda go on a walk with her; when Matilda suggests that Agnes go instead, Rosalie demands... (full context)

...that Agnes take the carriage to and from church rather than walking with her and Matilda—and, whenever possible, she prevents Agnes from attending church at all. Finally, she keeps Agnes so... (full context)

After Rosalie and Matilda run into Mr. Weston one morning, Matilda tells Agnes—despite Rosalie’s attempts to shush her—that Mr.... (full context)

...devastated him. Happily, she sees no evidence of that. She walks home from church with Matilda, who is lonely, bored, and sullen. Mrs. Murray, having married off Rosalie, has turned her... (full context)

Mrs. Murray blames Agnes for not gently inducing Matilda to enjoy ladylike behavior and follow all her mother’s commands, blaming her for not having... (full context)

Matilda, bored and cooped up, begins to visit poor cottagers with Agnes. One day, Matilda and... (full context)

When Matilda runs off after her dog, Agnes asks Mr. Weston whether he thinks Rosalie will be... (full context)

Matilda returns. She and Agnes continue on their errand, and Mr. Weston on his. But on... (full context)

Mr. Weston asks whether Agnes will miss Matilda. Agnes says she probably will—after all, she misses Rosalie, and Matilda is in some respects... (full context)