Lady Audley’s Secret

Lady Audley’s Secret

by

Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Mrs. Dawson Character Analysis

Mrs. Dawson is the wife of Mr. Dawson and former employer of Lucy Graham. She councils Lucy after Sir Michael’s proposal, telling her that while this match would mean a huge boost in Lucy’s status and wealth, she must reject Sir Michael if she does not love him back. Mrs. Dawson’s comments underscore the difficult and contradicting expectations Victorian women lived under, given that they could and were often encouraged to marry for wealth and status yet had to act as though they were only marrying for love.

Mrs. Dawson Quotes in Lady Audley’s Secret

The Lady Audley’s Secret quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Dawson or refer to Mrs. Dawson. 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:
Women and Power in Victorian England Theme Icon
).
Volume 1, Chapter 1 Quotes

“You know that nobody asks you to marry Sir Michael unless you wish. Of course it would be a magnificent match; he has a splendid income, and is one of the most generous of men. Your position would be very high, and you would be enabled to do a great deal of good; but, as I said before, you must be entirely guided by your own feelings.”

Related Characters: Mrs. Dawson (speaker), Lady Audley / Lucy Graham / Helen Maldon Talboys , Sir Michael Audley
Page Number: 13
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mrs. Dawson Quotes in Lady Audley’s Secret

The Lady Audley’s Secret quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Dawson or refer to Mrs. Dawson. 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:
Women and Power in Victorian England Theme Icon
).
Volume 1, Chapter 1 Quotes

“You know that nobody asks you to marry Sir Michael unless you wish. Of course it would be a magnificent match; he has a splendid income, and is one of the most generous of men. Your position would be very high, and you would be enabled to do a great deal of good; but, as I said before, you must be entirely guided by your own feelings.”

Related Characters: Mrs. Dawson (speaker), Lady Audley / Lucy Graham / Helen Maldon Talboys , Sir Michael Audley
Page Number: 13
Explanation and Analysis: