On October 3, 1845, Craik's mother died, leaving Craik the primary caregiver and financial provider for herself and her two younger brothers. This event impacted her writing of The Half-Caste with the governess character of Miss Pryor. Miss Pryor's father passed away, leaving her as the primary financial source of her family as well

Craik, Dinah Mulock, and Melissa Edmundson. “Dinah Mulock Craik: A Brief Chronology.” The Half-Caste, edited by Melissa Edmundson, Broadview Editions, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, 2016, pp. 39–41.