Mrs. Michelson Character Analysis

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 seems slightly self-righteous and self-important. She is extremely taken in by Count Fosco, who flatters Mrs. Michelson by paying her attention and respecting her role in the house. She is adamant that the Count is innocent of the conspiracy acted against Laura Fairlie—Count Fosco and Sir Percival switch her identity with that of Anne Catherick, who dies in London, and lock Laura in an asylum in Anne’s place in order to steal her fortune—and blames the whole thing on Sir Percival Glyde. It is Mrs. Michelson who innocently takes Laura to the train station and sees her off to London, where she is met by Count Fosco and taken to the asylum. Mrs. Michelson suspects that there is something strange going on at Blackwater but cannot say what it is. She feels sorry for Laura and Marian and is convinced that they are being tricked or mistreated. Mrs. Michelson’s testament provides evidence that Laura is tricked into going to London—Sir Percival tells her that Marian has already left Blackwater and that Laura is travelling to meet her—because when she returns from taking Laura to the station, she finds that Marian is still at the house and has been hidden in a separate wing. Mrs. Michelson is horrified by this and only remains in Sir Percival’s service to care for Marian, who is extremely ill.