Mrs. Glegg Character Analysis in The Mill on the Floss

Mrs. Glegg is Mrs. Tulliver’s eldest sister and Tom and Maggie’s most hated aunt. She takes very seriously her rights and responsibilities as the oldest of the Dodson sisters, and tends to treat her family dictatorially, making loud judgments about Mrs. Tulliver’s housekeeping and criticizing everything about her niece and nephew’s behavior and physical appearance. Mrs. Glegg believes that the Dodson way of life is the highest standard to which others should aspire, and she frequently finds others wanting in that respect (particularly Mr. Tulliver, who she thinks is rude and hot-headed.) However, despite her irritable nature, she is the only Dodson family member who defends Maggie at the end of the novel, when Maggie has become an outcast as a result of her botched elopement with Stephen Guest. For Mrs. Glegg, family is the highest value, and she is fiercely loyal to her own kin.

Mrs. Glegg Character Timeline in The Mill on the Floss

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Glegg appears in The Mill on the Floss. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Women’s Roles and Social Pressures Theme Icon

...“like other folks’s children.” Mrs. Tulliver tells Maggie to work on her sewing for her Aunt Glegg , but Maggie protests that she doesn’t like sewing or her aunt. Mr. Tulliver laughs,... (full context)

...as a voodoo doll to vent her rage. Today she pretends the doll is her Aunt Glegg , whom she hates. (full context)

Mrs. Glegg is a “handsome” woman, like all the Dodson sisters, but she dislikes buying new clothes,... (full context)

...is crying, and informs her sisters that old Mrs. Sutton has died of the dropsy. Mrs. Glegg scolds her for carrying on about people outside the family, since she thinks she shouldn’t... (full context)

...have such pretty blonde curls. Maggie greets Lucy warmly, but doesn’t like the attentions of Mrs. Glegg , who talks to the children as if she considers them “rather idiotic” and criticizes... (full context)

...a clergyman. Indeed, the narrator comments that Mr. Pullet barely knows what a clergyman is. Mrs. Glegg protests that it makes little sense to send a boy to school when he has... (full context)

Mrs. Glegg leaves in a huff, and the other women go outside to see to the children.... (full context)

Mrs. Tulliver points out that it would be difficult for the family financially if Mrs. Glegg were to demand the return of her loan of five hundred pounds. Mr. Tulliver claims... (full context)

...children outside to play, while Mrs. Tulliver talks with the Pullets about the fight with Mrs. Glegg and her family’s financial situation. Mrs. Pullet says that Mrs. Tulliver was always her favorite... (full context)

Mr. Glegg and Mrs. Glegg live in St. Ogg’s, an ancient fishing village first built by the Normans and the... (full context)

Mrs. Glegg constantly criticizes not only the other inhabitants of St. Ogg’s, but also Mr. Glegg’s passion... (full context)

When Mrs. Pullet and Mr. Pullet visit Mrs. Glegg the next day to mediate the quarrel, Mrs. Glegg readily agrees to let the Tullivers... (full context)

...like the family quarrel has come to an end, Mr. Tulliver sends a letter to Mrs. Glegg telling her that the five hundred pounds will be repaid, and that he has no... (full context)

...of Mrs. Tulliver’s linen and china in order to keep it in the family, but Mrs. Glegg protests that they should be talking about more pressing financial needs. She warns Mrs. Tulliver... (full context)

...convinces Mr. Glegg to invest in the shipping business, but even gets the notoriously stingy Mrs. Glegg to purchase some cloth and linen from his knapsack. Tom is very pleased with this... (full context)

...give Mrs. Tulliver, who is also returning to the mill to keep house for Tom. Mrs. Glegg and Mrs. Pullet very much disapprove of Maggie “going into service” and working as a... (full context)

Meanwhile, Mrs. Tulliver goes to visit Mrs. Glegg and ask for her help. Surprisingly, the usually judgmental Mrs. Glegg is very much on... (full context)