Character introduction

The first thirteen chapters of Alias Grace, a novel by Margaret Atwood, introduce main characters of the novel and the beginning of the plot, a basic level of background understanding. There are only two characters who's point of view the reader ever sees, Grace Marks and Dr. Simon Jordan, yet there are other characters that have important roles in the novel as well.

Grace Marks, the protagonist, is accused of assisting her supposed lover (James McDermott) in murdering her employer (Thomas Kinnear) and a coworker (Nancy Montgomery). She is currently living in a Penitentiary for women and works as a servant for the Governor's wife. Before the Penitentiary, she was locked away in an insane asylum even though she was potentially sane. She was only sixteen when convicted, placing her current age in the novel around 32. She is intelligent and an excellent seamstress, she is very passionate about making quilts.

Even though Grace may seem relatively straight forward, she is beyond confusing. The reason why Grace is such a confusing character is simple because she allows herself to be. Grace never denies murdering these two people, yet she also never admits to it.

On page six, the confusion begins, "I see Nancy, on her knees, with her hair fallen over and the blood running down into her eyes....this time it will all be different, this time I will run to help..." Grace is telling a story, whether it be a memory or a dream is unknown. She pictures the woman she has been accused of murdering and states how she wishes it had been different, that she had acted differently. By page six, the reader is already assuming that she did in fact kill someone or partake in it somehow.

One of the most shocking factors of Grace's personality, is her relaxed and unconcerned thoughts of what she is called and who she is thought to be. She casually brings up being called a "celebrated murderess," (22) and all she has to say about being referred to as a "murderess" is that a "Murderess is a strong name to have attached to you," (22).

By chapter thirteen, the reader is also aware of Grace's childhood experiences. She grew up in a large family that could not be well supported considering her father was an alcoholic. She had an older sister and brother who eventually left to hopefully find a better life, leaving Grace responsible for her younger siblings. Considering her rough childhood, more of her actions are understandable to the reader.

Dr. Simon Jordan is an early psychologist who takes to studying Grace Marks, for she is a well known murderess in Canada at this time. He is well educated and comes from what used to be a wealthy family. His father ran a textile mill that hired young women and housed them as well. Unfortunately, when his father was dying, so was his mill so it was sold. Dr. Jordan's dream is to open his own insane asylum where he can study the human brain as much as he would like to.

He has been invited to aid Grace Mark's pardon committee in getting Grace released and proven innocent. He accepted the offer because it was a great opportunity to further his research.

He has an expected mind of a man during this time period, derogatory towards women. His first comments on all the women he meets are about their appearance. Dora, the maid of the home he is staying in, is described as "stout and pudding-faced, with a small downturned mouth like that of a disappointed baby," (57). He does not like her immediately and he assumes that "Dora returns his lack of esteem. She appears to feel that he has rented these rooms with the sole object of causing trouble for her," (57).

Then again, when he met Grace Marks, she is described as a "nun in a cloister, a maiden in a towered dungeon, awaiting the next day's burning at the stake," (59). He makes a guess that Grace is a normal hysteric based on the glimpse of her he receives while she is casted in shadow, then realizes his mistake. Even though he realizes his mistake with Grace, he doesn't stop making assumptions about other women.


The Governor's Wife has an obsession with criminals, she has a scrap book filled with newspaper cuttings of articles about the most famous criminals. Grace Marks, being of her "murderess" stature, is one that stands out amongst the all. This is why the wife loves having Grace Marks work in her home, for Grace is a prize to the her. Grace is a collector's item to the Governor's wife and she is pranced around as such. When the wife has guests, Grace serves tea, or wanders the parlour, Grace is one of the Wife's "accomplishments,"(22).

Mary Whitney is the commonly mentioned past friend of Grace Marks. She has already passed at the time that Grace borrowed her name. She has been a friend of advice and knowledge to Grace throughout Grace's journey. Grace consistently refers to Mary Whitney, to her, Mary is a strong, empowering women. An example of this is on page 63 when Grace thinks of what Mary would say in order to stand up for herself; she would say "you should hold your dirty tongues...or one dark night I'll have them out of your mouths roots and all..."

Mary Whitney and Grace Marks

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