Northanger Abbey

Catherine Morland

Also known as Miss Morland

The affectionate heroine, raised in Fullerton and initially inexperienced in society. She loves Henry Tilney, marries him, and grows close to his sister Eleanor.

Richard Morland

Also known as Mr. Morland · Catherine’s father

Catherine’s respectable clergyman father. He and his wife welcome her home after General Tilney sends her away, and eventually consent to her marriage to Henry.

Mrs. Morland

Also known as Catherine’s mother

Catherine’s sensible, good-tempered mother, who welcomes her home and tries to comfort her after her abrupt return from Northanger Abbey.

Sally Morland

Also known as Sarah Morland

Catherine’s younger sister and close confidante at home. She speculates about why General Tilney sent Catherine away.

Mr. Allen

A wealthy Fullerton neighbor who takes Catherine to Bath for his health. He is Mrs. Allen’s husband and a sensible friend of the Morlands.

Mrs. Allen

Mr. Allen’s good-tempered wife and Catherine’s chaperone in Bath. She is devoted to dress and eager for company, though often inattentive.

Mr. King

Also known as the master of the ceremonies

The master of ceremonies at the Lower Rooms in Bath, who introduces Catherine to Henry Tilney.

Henry Tilney

Also known as Mr. Tilney

A witty young clergyman, son of General Tilney and brother of Eleanor and Captain Tilney. He loves Catherine and marries her despite his father’s opposition.

Mrs. Thorpe

Also known as Mrs. John Thorpe

A good-humored, indulgent widow and former schoolfriend of Mrs. Allen. She is the mother of John, Isabella, Maria, Anne, Edward, and William.

John Thorpe

Also known as Mr. Thorpe · Thorpe

Mrs. Thorpe’s boastful son, Isabella’s brother, and James Morland’s former friend. His false claims about the Morlands’ wealth first mislead General Tilney, and his later contradictory account helps turn the General against them.

Edward Thorpe

One of Mrs. Thorpe’s sons, said to be at Merchant Taylors’ School; he is mentioned but does not appear directly.

William Thorpe

One of Mrs. Thorpe’s sons, said to be at sea; he is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Isabella Thorpe

Also known as Miss Thorpe · Belle

Mrs. Thorpe’s eldest daughter, John’s sister, and James Morland’s former fiancée. She breaks with James after flirting with Captain Tilney and later writes Catherine seeking help.

James Morland

Also known as James

Catherine’s eldest brother and John Thorpe’s former friend. He becomes engaged to Isabella, who ends the relationship; he is deeply hurt.

The younger Miss Thorpes

Also known as the two younger Miss Thorpes

Mrs. Thorpe’s two younger daughters, who imitate Isabella’s appearance and dress. Their individual names are not given.

Miss Andrews

A friend of Isabella’s, described by her as beautiful and devoted to reading Gothic novels; Isabella also calls her insipid. She is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Captain Hunt

A man with whom Isabella says she danced at an assembly; she claims she scolded him for not admiring Miss Andrews. He is mentioned but does not appear directly.

George Parry

A young man Mrs. Allen says Catherine might have danced with had his family visited Bath; he is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Dr. Skinner

A neighbor of the Allens who visited Bath for his health and returned stout, according to Mrs. Allen. He is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Mrs. Hughes

An acquaintance of Mrs. Thorpe who brings Miss Tilney to the seating area and asks Catherine to make room for her. She knows the Tilney family and introduces Captain Tilney to Isabella.

Miss Tilney

Also known as Eleanor

Henry Tilney’s elegant sister, who welcomes Catherine’s friendship and invites her to Northanger Abbey. She marries a wealthy man who unexpectedly inherits a title and fortune, then helps secure Henry’s reconciliation with their father.

The tea-offering gentleman

An unnamed man at the Upper Rooms who offers tea to Catherine and Mrs. Allen, briefly giving them someone to talk with.

General Tilney

Also known as Mr. Tilney’s father

Henry, Eleanor, and Captain Tilney’s commanding father. Misled by John Thorpe’s claims about Catherine’s wealth, he welcomes her as a prospective daughter-in-law, then sends her away when he learns the truth; he later consents to her marriage to Henry.

Mrs. Tilney

Also known as Miss Drummond

The late wife of General Tilney and mother of Henry, Eleanor, and Captain Tilney. Born Miss Drummond, she had a large fortune and pearls from her father; Eleanor remembers her fondly.

Mr. Drummond

Mrs. Tilney’s father, who gave her a large fortune and a set of pearls on her wedding day. He is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Miss Smith

An acquaintance of Mrs. Hughes who dances with Henry Tilney at a Bath assembly. Catherine asks Eleanor about her.

Sam Fletcher

Also known as Fletcher

A friend of John Thorpe who has a horse for sale; Thorpe mentions him but he does not appear directly.

The man on horseback

An unnamed man whom Henry Tilney calls out to while walking with Eleanor; John Thorpe overhears him say they are going to Wick Rocks.

The footman

An unnamed servant at the Allens’ house who tells Catherine that a gentleman and lady called after she had left with John Thorpe.

Maria Thorpe

Also known as Maria

One of Mrs. Thorpe’s younger daughters and Isabella’s sister. She joins the Clifton outing with James Morland and John Thorpe.

Anne Thorpe

Also known as Anne · the second Miss Thorpe

One of Mrs. Thorpe’s younger daughters and Isabella’s sister. She is left out of the Clifton party and later tells Catherine that the outing took place.

Emily

A girl whom Anne Thorpe identifies as a dear friend; she is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Sophia

A girl whom Anne Thorpe identifies as a dear friend; she is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Captain Tilney

Also known as the elder brother

Henry and Eleanor Tilney’s fashionable elder brother and a captain. He courts Isabella despite knowing she is engaged to James, then leaves Bath for his regiment.

Charles Hodges

A man who Isabella says may ask her to dance; she says she intends to discourage him. He is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Marquis of Longtown

One of General Tilney’s old friends, whom he had hoped to see in Bath; mentioned but does not appear directly.

General Courteney

One of General Tilney’s old friends, whom he had hoped to see in Bath; mentioned but does not appear directly.

The narrator

An unnamed narrator who comments directly on Catherine, the characters, and the conventions of the story.

The steward

General Tilney’s unnamed steward, whose letter says that the General’s presence is needed at home.

The servant at the Tilneys’ lodgings

Also known as William

An unnamed servant at the Tilneys’ lodgings, whom General Tilney scolds for not attending the door when Catherine arrives.

Mr. Hume

Also known as David Hume

A historian Henry Tilney and Eleanor mention as an author of historical works; he is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Mr. Robertson

Also known as William Robertson

A historian Eleanor mentions as an author of historical works; he is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Caractacus

An ancient British figure whose words Eleanor contrasts with speeches composed by historians; mentioned but does not appear directly.

Agricola

A Roman-era figure whose words Eleanor contrasts with speeches composed by historians; mentioned but does not appear directly.

Alfred the Great

Also known as Alfred

A king whose words Eleanor contrasts with speeches composed by historians; mentioned but does not appear directly.

Mrs. Radcliffe

A novelist whose Gothic works, especially The Mysteries of Udolpho, Catherine and Henry admire.

Emily St. Aubert

Also known as Emily

The heroine of The Mysteries of Udolpho, whose travels through southern France Catherine recalls; she is a fictional character mentioned in conversation.

Valancourt

A character in The Mysteries of Udolpho whom Henry cites when joking about how far Emily leaves him behind; he is mentioned but does not appear directly.

Frederick Tilney

Also known as Captain Frederick Tilney

The name of Captain Tilney, Henry and Eleanor’s elder brother. Henry gives it while joking about a fictional riot in London, and the later story confirms it.

The three villains in horsemen’s greatcoats

Three unnamed villains imagined by the narrator as forcing Catherine into a traveling chaise; they do not appear in the story.

Dorothy

Also known as the ancient housekeeper

A fictionalized housekeeper in Henry Tilney’s teasing account of the Gothic horrors Catherine might encounter at Northanger. She is imagined as leading Catherine to a gloomy chamber and hinting that it is haunted.

Matilda

Also known as the wretched Matilda

A fictional heroine imagined in Henry Tilney’s Gothic tale; Catherine expects to find her manuscript hidden in a cabinet.

Miss Tilney’s maid

Also known as the maid sent to assist Catherine

An unnamed maid in the Tilney household, sent by Eleanor to help Catherine dress at Northanger Abbey.

The housemaid

An unnamed servant who opens Catherine’s window shutters in the morning at Northanger Abbey and keeps the bed in Mrs. Tilney’s room neatly arranged.

The butler

An unnamed servant at Northanger Abbey who offers to light General Tilney’s candle.

General Tilney’s father

The unnamed father of General Tilney, who had the decaying fourth side of Northanger Abbey removed and replaced with a new building.

Charlotte Davis

A young woman whom Isabella says Captain Tilney stayed beside in Bath after his attentions to Isabella ended.

Anne Mitchell

A young woman in Bath whom Isabella says tried to imitate her turban.

Robinson

A person General Tilney says has been spoken to about a cottage at Woodston; no further role is specified.

The physician who attended Mrs. Tilney

A respected physician whom the Tilneys trusted and who attended Mrs. Tilney on the third day of her illness. Henry says two other physicians were summoned the next day and that she received every possible attention.

Alice

A person at Lord Longtown’s whom Eleanor asks Catherine to use as an intermediary when writing to her; no further role is specified.

George

One of Catherine’s younger siblings, a six-year-old boy who eagerly expects a brother or sister whenever a carriage arrives at Fullerton.

Harriet

One of Catherine’s younger siblings, a four-year-old girl who eagerly expects a brother or sister whenever a carriage arrives at Fullerton.

The wealthy husband of Eleanor Tilney

Also known as the Viscount · the Viscount of Longtown · the Viscount and Viscountess’s brother-in-law

Eleanor Tilney’s long-time suitor, formerly held back by his inferior social position. He unexpectedly inherits a title and fortune, marries Eleanor, and uses his influence with his wife to help obtain General Tilney’s consent to Henry’s marriage.