Mrs. Tilney (née Drummond) was a character mentioned in Northanger Abbey. She died before the course of the novel and therefore does not make an appearance. Catherine Morland, due to her overactive imagination and over-consumption of the Gothic novel, believes that the formidable General Tilney murdered his wife while they were in their home, Northanger Abbey.
Biography[]
Marriage and dowry[]
Mrs. Tilney brought in £20,000[1] to the marriage, and her father allowed her to spend £500[2] on her wedding trousseau. She also received a beautiful set of pearls that passed to her daughter, Eleanor Tilney, after she died.[3]
Years after[]
She had three children, Frederick, Henry, and Eleanor. She was close with her daughter before she died, but unfortunately Eleanor did not realize what a gift she had with her mother until after Mrs. Tilney's death. They used to go on walks together, Mrs. Tilney's favorite being the small path through the Scotch fir grove.[4] She died when Eleanor was only thirteen years of age.[4]
While Henry Tilney scolds Catherine for suspecting that Mrs Tilney was murdered, his later admits that General Tilney contributed to her death due to his coldness and neglect. While he may have not killed her, his cruelty towards Mrs Tilney after marrying her only for her wealth was significant.