Gwendolyn Harleth

Gwendolyn is the oldest daughter of her mother and the two of them are very close. She is extremely spoiled and accustomed to getting her own way. He mother favors her over all her sisters and everyone, including her sisters, knows it. Despite spoiling her, her mother and sisters also depend greatly on Gwendolyn. For example, when they are first shown the house at Offendene, her mother and sisters are prepared to be disappointed with the house and look to Gwendolyn for a first impression. She seems to realize their dependence on this point and says that the house is a place of great potential, thereby ensuring that her mother and sisters will be happy here.

Gwendolyn is courted by several but hates the idea of romantic love and spurns the offers until her mother loses her entire fortune, thereby leaving the family in dire financial straits...