Miss Pross is a character in

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

' 1859 novel ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the ...

''. Miss Pross is the no-nonsense governess and friend of

Lucie Manette Lucie Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Lucie is the daughter of Dr. Alexandre Manette. She is wise beyond her years, unfailingly kind, and loving. Her love and protection of her father is ...

. She is also the sister of Solomon Pross (later revealed to be the spy known as John Barsad). She accompanies Lucie to

Dover Dover () is a town and major ferry port in Kent, South East England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies south-east of Canterbury and east of Maidstone ...

when Lucie goes to France to retrieve her father,

Dr. Alexandre Manette Doctor Alexandre Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. He is Lucie's father, a brilliant physician, and spent eighteen years "in secret" as a prisoner in the Bastille prior to the French Revolution. He is ...

, after his release from the

Bastille The Bastille (, ) was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was sto ...

, but her stout English patriotism causes her to stay in England. She is Lucie's constant companion accompanying her to the trial of

Charles Darnay Charles Darnay, Charles D'Aulnais or Charles St. Evrémonde is a fictional character in the 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' by Charles Dickens. Overview Darnay is a wealthy gentleman who spends time in both France and England during the time o ...

, to church, to just about everything. She is Lucie's shadow and protector, and overcomes her dislike of everything not English to accompany Lucie to France when her husband Charles Darnay is arrested in Paris as an aristocrat. After Charles has been rescued and the rest of the family has departed for England, Miss Pross confronts Madame Defarge, who had come to their lodgings to capture Lucie and her young daughter. In the struggle that ensues, Madame Defarge's pistol goes off, killing herself. Miss Pross leaves Madame Defarge's body there and escapes with

Jerry Cruncher Jeremiah "Jerry" Cruncher is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Jeremiah "Jerry" Cruncher is employed as a ''porter'' for Tellson's Bank of London. He earns extra money as a Resurrectionists ...

, but the psychological shock and the sound of the gun cause her to go deaf.

Reception

Teresa Mangan has explored underlying similarities between Miss Pross and Madame Defarge: both women kill in the name of other women whom they love (Pross fights to save Lucie, whereas Defarge seeks revenge for crimes committed by Darnay's family against her dead sister). She concludes that:

"Miss Pross has also suffered as a stereotype. At best, she is held up as Madame’s antithesis (when Lucie is not positioned in that role). At worst, she is that “woman of a certain age,” a spinster, the literary equivalent of a quirky and amusing character actor of theatre and later film. Even within the constraints of her tertiary role, however, Miss Pross complicates this tale of two cities. Without the respectable, all-consuming outlet of loving Lucie, how like Madame Defarge Miss Pross might be."

Portrayal in other media

* In the 1935 film ''

'', Miss Pross is played by

Edna May Oliver Edna May Oliver (born Edna May Nutter, November 9, 1883 – November 9, 1942) was an American stage and film actress. During the 1930s, she was one of the better-known character actresses in American films, often playing tart-tongued spinsters. ...

. * In the 1958 film ''

'', Miss Pross is played by

Athene Seyler Athene Seyler, CBE (31 May 188912 September 1990) was an English actress. Early life She was born in Hackney, London; her German-born grandparents moved to the United Kingdom, where her grandfather Philip Seyler was a merchant in London. Athe ...

. * In the 2008 Broadway musical adaptation of ''

'', Miss Pross is played by Katherine McGrath.

References

External links

Character Profile of Miss Pross
Literary characters introduced in 1859 A Tale of Two Cities characters Fictional governesses Female characters in literature Fictional British people {{character-stub