Mrs. Price Character Analysis in The Shadow Lines

Mrs. Price is May and Nick's mother. She and her husband, Snipe, live in West Hampstead, London. She and Snipe take in Tridib and his parents when Tridib is a child, on the eve of World War II. Decades later, when the narrator meets her, Mrs. Price is elderly and tires quickly, but still loves having Indian guests. She and her husband are extremely generous, as over the years they provide lodging for several of the narrator's family members, including Ila's family.

Mrs. Price Character Timeline in The Shadow Lines

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Price appears in The Shadow Lines. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Memory, Storytelling, and Reality Theme Icon

...away in England visiting relatives through marriage. He says he stayed with a woman named Mrs. Price , who has a daughter named May. When asked, Tridib explains that May isn't sexy... (full context)

Borders, Violence, and Political Unrest Theme Icon

...but the narrator tells her that Tridib used to tell them about how Alan Tresawsen, Mrs. Price 's brother, worked there before the war. The narrator sees the building like he imagines... (full context)

...London, and the family soon realized that the rooms the university provided weren't big enough. Mrs. Price offered to let them stay with her. (full context)

Ila and her family are living with Mrs. Price when they visit Calcutta for a holiday. Queen Victoria invites the narrator's mother to bring... (full context)

...with her to play a game she played with Nick. She explained that Nick is Mrs. Price 's son, and they walk to and from school together every day. The narrator was... (full context)

The narrator's father visited Mrs. Price when Nick was thirteen. He was impressed by Nick's composure and asked Nick what he... (full context)

Seventeen years later, the narrator finally meets Nick. The narrator, Ila, and Robi visit Mrs. Price , and as soon as the narrator sees Ila, he knows she has a secret.... (full context)

...in mere minutes. The cherry tree outside is taller than the narrator expected, and old Mrs. Price comes out of the house to greet her guests. Nick mentions how the narrator knew... (full context)

Mrs. Price offers the narrator a drink, but he's too engrossed in looking around the room that... (full context)

...at a leftist newspaper, and Tridib's questions about the paper were embarrassing and, according to Mrs. Price , "difficult." Mike lies stretched out in front of Snipe and Dan. He hadn't liked... (full context)

One of Alan's arms is mostly metal, and Mrs. Price never believed his story that he injured it in a motorcycle accident. She'd received a... (full context)

...Mike sit in an armchair, laughing. Alan stands behind the chair in between Mayadebi and Mrs. Price , who's holding the infant May. Alan looks down with a smile at Mayadebi. As... (full context)

Back in Mrs. Price 's living room, Nick jokes with the narrator and asks if he can find his... (full context)

...Isle of Wight, and Mike joined the navy and died in 1943. Tridib went with Mrs. Price and Mayadebi to collect Alan's things a few days after he died, and he found... (full context)

The narrator doesn't see Ila for two weeks. Mrs. Price invites both Ila and the narrator for Christmas Eve dinner with her, May, and Nick.... (full context)

...of embezzling money. Nick stands up, calls May a bitch, and goes to his room. Mrs. Price is asleep in her chair. A half hour later, Ila fetches Nick, they wake up... (full context)

Mrs. Price heads for bed as May and Nick settle Ila and the narrator on camp beds... (full context)

...letter and hides it in her dresser. When it's time to leave for her rehearsal, Mrs. Price asks about the letter. May says casually that Tridib invited her to India, and Mrs.... (full context)

...first time the day after Ila's wedding. Ila and Nick married simply in London, and Mrs. Price invited a few people to dinner to celebrate. Now, Nick and Ila are set to... (full context)

The narrator doesn't remember much about the evening at Mrs. Price 's house. He almost loses his gift, a tiny saltcellar, at a pub when he... (full context)

...her that the only thing he needs help with is arranging a final visit with Mrs. Price . (full context)

The narrator and Ila decide to meet at Trafalgar Square and then go to Mrs. Price 's together. The narrator sits in the square and watches as Ila, dressed fashionably, attracts... (full context)

Mrs. Price seems frailer than usual and seems like she doesn't really want visitors. After they have... (full context)

...in the park. Mayadebi found him and angrily led him home. Back at the house, Mrs. Price kindly explained that Mayadebi heard that the Germans supposedly dropped explosives disguised as toffee tins.... (full context)

...leave Nick, but she insists she loves him too much. Later when Nick arrives at Mrs. Price 's house, however, Ila announces with a laugh that Nick wants Ila's father to buy... (full context)

...first time in London, the day that Ila takes him and the narrator to meet Mrs. Price . Ila takes them to her favorite "Indian" restaurant, which is barely Indian. The food... (full context)