Mrs. Allen Character Analysis in Northanger Abbey

A very dim-witted, childless woman, Mrs. Allen is a neighbor of the Morlands who invites Catherine to accompany her and her husband to Bath for a holiday. She thinks about nothing but clothing and how much it costs, and remembers very little from most conversations, merely repeating things that those around her say back to them. Supposed to serve as a guardian to Catherine during the trip to Bath, Mrs. Allen is too incapable of independent thought to properly guide Catherine through social situations. She runs into Mrs. Thorpe, a woman she knew fifteen years before at boarding school, which leads to her and Catherine spending much of their time in Bath with the Thorpes.

Mrs. Allen Character Timeline in Northanger Abbey

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Allen appears in Northanger Abbey. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...of the land around their home, invites Catherine to travel with him and his wife, Mrs. Allen , to Bath. (full context)

It is necessary to describe Mrs. Allen , so that the reader can guess what kind of dramatic part she will play... (full context)

On their first night out, Mrs. Allen takes so long getting ready that they arrive late to a ball. It is very... (full context)

Mrs. Allen and Catherine settle into a routine, but no matter how much Mrs. Allen wishes she... (full context)

Mrs. Allen interrupts their conversation by asking Catherine to help fix a pin in her sleeve. Mr.... (full context)

...day in the “Pump-room,” but he is nowhere to be seen. More luckily, however, when Mrs. Allen repeats for the umpteenth time her wish that they knew anyone in Bath, this wish... (full context)

Daily, Mrs. Allen exclaims how happy she is to have met Mrs. Thorpe in Bath so that they... (full context)

Catherine is left alone with Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe. She feels sure everyone around her believes that she was unable to... (full context)

...his sister Miss Tilney and knows Mrs. Thorpe. He addresses himself to both Catherine and Mrs. Allen , who says that she is very glad to see him and feared that he... (full context)

...her to dance again, so she returns to the older women, hoping to see him. Mrs. Allen says that Mr. Tilney had said he wanted to dance and she thought that if... (full context)

...her out in the Pump-room. She spends the morning reading her book and responding to Mrs. Allen ’s idle remarks about clothing. Suddenly, John Thorpe arrives and tells Catherine to hurry and... (full context)

Back at the Allens’, Catherine learns that Mrs. Allen ran into Mrs. Hughes in the Pump-room and then walked on the Crescent with Mr.... (full context)

...like it will rain, and Catherine anxiously monitors the weather, appealing to Mr. Allen and Mrs. Allen for their opinion on whether it will rain, if it will stop raining, and if... (full context)

...heard Tilney telling a man that they were going out of town. Catherine appeals to Mrs. Allen , who says she may go riding with the Thorpes and her brother. (full context)

The next morning Catherine asks Mrs. Allen if it would be alright for her to go to the Tilneys’ lodgings to explain... (full context)

...improper for young men and women to take drives and visit inns together. He asks Mrs. Allen if she agrees with him that it is improper, and she says she does. In... (full context)

After their walk, the Tilneys accompany Catherine to her lodgings and ask Mrs. Allen ’s permission to have Catherine to dinner the day after next. Catherine can barely hide... (full context)

Mrs. Morland and Catherine call on Mrs. Allen , and Mrs. Morland tells Catherine that she feels sorry for James, but he will... (full context)

...after herself on a long journey. Mr. Allen expresses anger with the General, and then Mrs. Allen repeats several times the same phrases her husband has used, before turning the topic back... (full context)