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George Talboys
Phoebe Marks is Lady Audley’s maidservant and the wife and cousin of Luke Marks. Described as very pale and plain, she is nevertheless similar to Lady Audley in appearance. Her lack of fine clothes, however, keeps her from being considered a great beauty like her lady. Phoebe was previously a servant in Mr. Dawson’s household at the same time as Lady Audley. Phoebe is a willing participant in the blackmail of Lady Audley, though she later claims that Luke forced her to marry him and to threaten to reveal Lady Audley’s secret identity. Phoebe represents the kind of ambitious member of the lower class whom the upper classes feared during the Victorian era, as she is willing to use her proximity to her lady to gain wealth through malicious tactics. Her physical similarity to Lady Audley further reveals the superficiality of Victorian society’s perceptions of class, as the two women are nearly identical but for a few minor, material characteristics.
Phoebe Marks Quotes in Lady Audley’s Secret
The Lady Audley’s Secret quotes below are all either spoken by Phoebe Marks or refer to Phoebe Marks. 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:
).
Volume 1, Chapter 7
Quotes
“Do you know, Phoebe, I have heard some people say you and I are alike?”
“I have heard them say so too, my lady…but they must be very stupid to say it, for your ladyship is a beauty, and I’m a poor plain creature.”
“Not at all, Phoebe…you are like me…it is only colour that you want. My hair is pale yellow shot with gold, yours is drab…Why, with a bottle of hair dye, such as we see advertised in the papers, and a pot of rouge, you’d be as good-looking as I any day, Phoebe.”
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Phoebe Marks Quotes in Lady Audley’s Secret
The Lady Audley’s Secret quotes below are all either spoken by Phoebe Marks or refer to Phoebe Marks. 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:
).
Volume 1, Chapter 7
Quotes
“Do you know, Phoebe, I have heard some people say you and I are alike?”
“I have heard them say so too, my lady…but they must be very stupid to say it, for your ladyship is a beauty, and I’m a poor plain creature.”
“Not at all, Phoebe…you are like me…it is only colour that you want. My hair is pale yellow shot with gold, yours is drab…Why, with a bottle of hair dye, such as we see advertised in the papers, and a pot of rouge, you’d be as good-looking as I any day, Phoebe.”
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
