The Moonstone

The Moonstone

by

Wilkie Collins

Penelope Betteredge Character Analysis

Gabriel Betteredge’s beloved daughter, as well as Rachel Verinder’s personal maid and close confidant. She helps Betteredge edit his narrative and serves as both a voice of reason and source of comfort in the Verinder household. She is the first to learn about the Diamond’s theft, and Superintendent Seegrave suspects of her committing it; later, Penelope defends her fellow maid Rosanna Spearman from the others’ suspicion, and is more distraught than anyone else when Rosanna commits suicide.

Penelope Betteredge Quotes in The Moonstone

The The Moonstone quotes below are all either spoken by Penelope Betteredge or refer to Penelope Betteredge. 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:
Detective Methods and Genre Standards Theme Icon
).
The Loss of the Diamond: 17 Quotes

It is a maxim of mine that men (being superior creatures) are bound to improve women—if they can. When a woman wants me to do anything (my daughter, or not, it doesn't matter), I always insist on knowing why. The oftener you make them rummage their own minds for a reason, the more manageable you will find them in all the relations of life. It isn't their fault (poor wretches!) that they act first, and think afterwards; it's the fault of the fools who humour them.

Related Characters: Gabriel Betteredge (speaker), Penelope Betteredge
Page Number: 153
Explanation and Analysis:
The Loss of the Diamond: 20 Quotes

People in high life have all the luxuries to themselves—among others, the luxury of indulging their feelings. People in low life have no such privilege. Necessity, which spares our betters, has no pity on as. We learn to put our feelings back into ourselves, and to jog on with our duties as patiently as may be. I don't complain of this—I only notice it.

Related Characters: Gabriel Betteredge (speaker), Franklin Blake , Miss Rachel Verinder, Sergeant Cuff, Rosanna Spearman, Penelope Betteredge
Page Number: 167-8
Explanation and Analysis:
The Discovery of the Truth 1: 1 Quotes

“Is it written by a man or a woman, Miss? If it's written by a woman, I had rather not read it on that account. If it’s written by a man, I beg to inform him that he knows nothing about it.”

Related Characters: Penelope Betteredge (speaker), Miss Drusilla Clack
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis:
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Penelope Betteredge Quotes in The Moonstone

The The Moonstone quotes below are all either spoken by Penelope Betteredge or refer to Penelope Betteredge. 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:
Detective Methods and Genre Standards Theme Icon
).
The Loss of the Diamond: 17 Quotes

It is a maxim of mine that men (being superior creatures) are bound to improve women—if they can. When a woman wants me to do anything (my daughter, or not, it doesn't matter), I always insist on knowing why. The oftener you make them rummage their own minds for a reason, the more manageable you will find them in all the relations of life. It isn't their fault (poor wretches!) that they act first, and think afterwards; it's the fault of the fools who humour them.

Related Characters: Gabriel Betteredge (speaker), Penelope Betteredge
Page Number: 153
Explanation and Analysis:
The Loss of the Diamond: 20 Quotes

People in high life have all the luxuries to themselves—among others, the luxury of indulging their feelings. People in low life have no such privilege. Necessity, which spares our betters, has no pity on as. We learn to put our feelings back into ourselves, and to jog on with our duties as patiently as may be. I don't complain of this—I only notice it.

Related Characters: Gabriel Betteredge (speaker), Franklin Blake , Miss Rachel Verinder, Sergeant Cuff, Rosanna Spearman, Penelope Betteredge
Page Number: 167-8
Explanation and Analysis:
The Discovery of the Truth 1: 1 Quotes

“Is it written by a man or a woman, Miss? If it's written by a woman, I had rather not read it on that account. If it’s written by a man, I beg to inform him that he knows nothing about it.”

Related Characters: Penelope Betteredge (speaker), Miss Drusilla Clack
Page Number: 203
Explanation and Analysis: