The Woman in White Characters

Walter Hartright is a drawing teacher who takes a position at Limmeridge house as the tutor of Marian Halcombe and her half-sister, Laura Fairlie, whom he later marries. Walter’s dedication to Laura motivates him… read analysis of Walter Hartright

Laura Fairlie is the half-sister of Marian Halcombe, the daughter of Mr. Philip Fairlie, and the niece of Mr. Fairlie. She is the rightful heir to Limmeridge House and eventually marries Walter… read analysis of Laura Fairlie

Marian is the half-sister of Laura Fairlie, and the daughter of the late Mrs. Fairlie. She is also close friends with Walter Hartright, the girls’ drawing teacher, and helps Walter in his… read analysis of Marian Halcombe

Sir Percival Glyde is an acquaintance of the deceased Mr. Philip Fairlie and engaged to Mr. Philip Fairlie’s daughter, Laura Fairlie. He is also the accomplice of the devious Count Fosco, who is… read analysis of Sir Percival Glyde

Madame Fosco is the wife of the Italian spy, Count Fosco, and seemingly a spy herself under the orders of the Count. She is the sister of Mr. Philip Fairlie and the aunt of… read analysis of Madame Fosco

Mr. Fairlie is the hypochondriac uncle of Laura Fairlie and the guardian of her and her half-sister, Marian Halcombe. He is the current owner of Limmeridge House, which will pass to Laura in the… read analysis of Mr. Fairlie

Anne Catherick is a poor, unfortunate and mentally fragile young woman who is locked in an asylum by Sir Percival Glyde because he thinks that she knows the secret of his false identity, as the… read analysis of Anne Catherick (“The Woman”)

Professor Pesca is an enthusiastic and lively Italian man and a close friend of Walter Hartright. It is Pesca who gets Walter the job teaching art at Limmeridge House and, therefore, introduces him to… read analysis of Professor Pesca

Mr. Gilmore is the Fairlie family’s lawyer and has been with the family for a long time, since Laura Fairlie was a child. He is in charge of arranging the Laura’s marriage settlement during her… read analysis of Mr. Gilmore

Mrs. Catherick is the mother of Anne Catherick and the co-conspirator of Sir Percival Glyde; in her youth, she helped him cover up the forgery he made on a church register which suggested that… read analysis of Mrs. Catherick

Mrs. Clements is a servant who was employed by Mrs. Catherick and who took care of Anne Catherick for part of her childhood. Later in life, she also takes care of Anne and accompanies her… read analysis of Mrs. Clements

Mrs. Michelson is the housekeeper at Blackwater. She is a proud, religious woman—the widow of a Protestant minister, as she enjoys telling people—and takes pride in her role in the household. At times, Mrs. Michelson… read analysis of Mrs. Michelson

Mr. Kyrle is the Fairlie’s family lawyer, who takes over the job when Mr. Gilmore becomes ill. Marian contacts Mr. Kyrle for help while she and Laura are at Blackwater, but her letters are intercepted… read analysis of Mr. Kyrle

The Clerk is the warden of the church at Old Welmingham, where evidence of the forgery that Sir Percival Glyde committed—claiming that his parents were married when they really were not—is stored in the vestry… read analysis of The Clerk

Mrs. Rubelle is a foreign spy and accomplice of Count Fosco. Disguised as a nurse for Marian, Mrs. Rubelle is brought to Blackwater Park in order to help Sir Percival Glyde and Count… read analysis of Mrs. Rubelle

Mr. Dawson is the doctor who attends Marian during her illness at Blackwater. At first it seems that Mr. Dawson is a competent doctor, and that Count Fosco is trying to get rid of him… read analysis of Mr. Dawson

Sir Percival Glyde’s lawyer. Mr. Merriman is involved in negotiating the marriage settlement between Sir Percival and Laura Fairlie, through Laura’s lawyer, Mr. Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore finds Mr. Merriman almost impossible to… read analysis of Mr. Merriman

Mrs. Vesey is Laura Fairlie’s elderly servant at Limmeridge and is removed from Laura’s service when she is married to Sir Percival Glyde and moves to his home at Blackwater Park. Mrs. Vesey is… read analysis of Mrs. Vesey

A servant employed by Sir Percival Glyde at Blackwater Park. Margaret Poacher is stupid and seemingly sadistic—at one point in the novel, she seems to enjoy the suffering of the injured dog that Marian brings… read analysis of Margaret Poacher