The plot in six lines
Walking home near London, Walter Hartright helps a frightened woman dressed in white, then learns that she has escaped from an asylum.
At Limmeridge House, Walter meets Laura Fairlie and Marian Halcombe, discovers Laura's resemblance to Anne Catherick, and grows close to Laura despite her engagement to Sir Percival Glyde.
Anne's fear of Sir Percival casts doubt on the engagement, while Marian recognises how little protection promises, property, and proper conduct offer Laura.
After Laura marries Sir Percival, Marian observes him and Count Fosco at Blackwater Park, where financial pressure and manipulation threaten her sister.
Anne's death is used to present Laura as dead, while Laura is confined under Anne's identity and loses control over her own life.
Walter finally obtains Count Fosco's confession and establishes the deception, proving that Laura is alive and restoring her true identity.
Themes
Marriage and money: Laura's marriage exposes how promises and property can give a husband control rather than offer his wife protection.
Identity: The resemblance between Anne and Laura enables a deception that makes a woman's identity vulnerable to other people's claims.
Evidence and truth: Different accounts, diary entries, and documents require the reader to connect evidence and question whose testimony carries authority.
Women's power: Marian's observation and practical judgment challenge men whose legal and financial advantages allow them to threaten her sister.
Characters
- Walter HartrightA drawing teacher whose love for Laura draws him into an investigation of deception and abuse.
- Marian HalcombeLaura's observant, determined half-sister challenges the men who threaten her safety.
- Laura FairlieA young heiress whose promised marriage leaves her vulnerable to control over her money and identity.
- Anne CatherickThe frightened woman in white has a connection to Laura's family and fears Sir Percival Glyde.
- Sir Percival GlydeLaura's prospective husband conceals secrets and presses for access to her fortune.
- Count FoscoSir Percival's charming, calculating friend combines social ease with a disturbing talent for manipulation.
For the A level coursework
- AQA (Literature A): recommended text for the A level non-exam assessment (coursework).
From the boards' own documents (the specifications and coursework guidance listed under Sources), read on 24 October 2026. Your school chooses the coursework texts: ask your teacher before you start.
Questions
What is The Woman in White about?
The Woman in White concerns an investigation into deception, marriage, and control over a young heiress's money and identity. It combines Gothic threats and confinement with a search for evidence through competing witness accounts.
Who are the main characters in The Woman in White?
The main characters are Walter Hartright, Laura Fairlie, Marian Halcombe, Anne Catherick, Sir Percival Glyde, and Count Fosco. Walter and Marian investigate the danger surrounding Laura, while Anne's resemblance to her and fear of Sir Percival connect their stories.
What are the main themes of The Woman in White?
The main themes are marriage and money, identity, women's power, and the struggle to establish truth. The novel asks whose account will be believed when wealth, marriage, and medical authority support a deception.
Which boards mention The Woman in White for A level English Literature?
AQA (Literature A): recommended text for the A level non-exam assessment (coursework). Your school chooses the coursework texts, so ask your teacher before you start.
