Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Brideshead Revisited, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Innocence, Experience, and Redemption
Suffering, Persecution, and Martyrdom
Authority, Rebellion, and Love
War and Peace
Globalization, Culture, and Modernity
Summary
Analysis
Not long after Charles and Sebastian’s outing to Brideshead, Jasper comes to visit Charles and rebukes him for keeping the wrong sort of company. Jasper complains that Sebastian is from a strange family. Sebastian’s parents are wealthy Catholics but are separated. Lord Marchmain left Lady Marchmain when he went to fight in World War I, and never returned. Lady Marchmain is a strict Catholic and will not get a divorce. Lord Marchmain now lives abroad. Although Jasper thinks Sebastian may be alright, he really dislikes Anthony Blanche and is embarrassed that Charles spends time with him.
Jasper is a conventional member of British society and dislikes people who differ from the norm. Catholics take marriage very seriously as a religious sacrament and cannot get divorced. Although divorce among Protestants, the dominant religious group in Britain, was uncommon in this period, it was becoming more socially acceptable. Jasper looks down on Lady Marchmain because she is a Catholic and has been involved in a public scandal. Lady Marchmain would rather go through a public scandal, and metaphorically martyr herself, rather than compromise her beliefs. Jasper also likely dislikes Anthony because Anthony is flamboyant, nonconformist, and is heavily implied to be gay. Therefore, he does not fit into conventional British society.
Themes
Jasper complains that Charles spends a fortune and that he is always drunk in the middle of the day. He points out that Charles’s room is full of new things and picks up a skull which has “Et in Arcadia Ego” written on its forehead. Charles says that he “paid cash for the skull” and offers Jasper a glass of champagne, which he says he always has at this time of day. Jasper refuses indignantly and leaves.
Charles imitates Sebastian’s extravagant lifestyle, which Jasper frowns upon because luxury and excess were associated with vulgarity and impropriety among the British middle class. Charles rebels against his middle-class upbringing and cultivates a fascination with the aristocracy, rather than a conventional respect for hard work and propriety. “Et in Arcadia Ego” means “And in Arcadia I am.” The skull is a symbol of death and suggests that death exists even in Arcadia: a Greek term for an earthly paradise. This implies that, although Charles feels like he is heaven when he is with Sebastian, this phase of his life must inevitably end.
Themes
Charles has arranged to spend the Easter holiday with his friend, Collins, but hopes that Sebastian will invite him somewhere instead. When Sebastian does not, Charles goes with Collins to Ravenna and spends a dismal holiday looking at historical ruins. He writes long letters to Sebastian but only receives two vague notes in return. Collins works hard all through the vacation and, later, becomes a well-known academic. Charles wonders, later in life, if he could have been a professor if he had not met Sebastian. However, he thinks he would have rebelled against the restrictions of academic life.
Ravenna is a province in Northern Italy which is famous for its elaborate mosaics and beautiful Catholic churches—being here likely reminds Charles of the extravagance of Brideshead and the Marchmain family. The past feels dead and uninspiring to Charles as a young man because he is more interested in his present with Sebastian, which is where he feels alive. This is contrasted with the older Charles in the present day (who narrates the story)—when he looks back on these events, sees them as superior to his present. Charles recognizes that he is undisciplined and cannot be satisfied with a career, which is ironic considering he later joins the military, the epitome of discipline and structure. He clearly wants more from life than conventional, middle-class security and wants to stand out from, rather than fit into, British society.
Themes
During the next term, Charles abandons his studies entirely. Although, outwardly, he seems to be making a failure of himself, inside he is happy for the first time. He had a lonely childhood and a serious, public school education. Now, with Sebastian, he feels as though he has a second chance at youth, and that there is a “nursery freshness” to their days together.
The strict public school education Charles has undergone, and likely the death of his mother, have made him feel like he has grown up very fast and missed out on a childhood. Childhood is associated with carelessness, irresponsibility, innocence, and play, and this is what Charles experiences with Sebastian. In this sense, he feels as though he is reborn and has a new lease on life. The idea of rebirth links to the Christian idea of resurrection after death, implying that Charles may find comfort in religion later on, just as he finds comfort with Sebastian now.
Themes
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Although Charles does make some effort to study, and passes his exams at the end of term, he does not care about Jasper’s warning because he is in love with Sebastian. He feels that this love is the true meaning of life and that it protects him from all worldly cares, although, of course, he does not tell Jasper this.
Charles is a romantic and believes that nothing in the world is as important as love. This is because he associates love with youth, vivacity, and life, all of which are more appealing than death. He feels that people like Jasper are cold and do not have the capacity to feel—they are willing to bypass emotional experiences, like love, for the sake of conventionality and for their careers.
Themes
During this period at university, Charles also sees a lot of Anthony Blanche. Anthony spent his childhood and teenage years travelling, and is rumored to have had love affairs in various parts of the world. He was also briefly attended Eton with Sebastian. Charles notices that Anthony likes to shock the English students and that he acts out for attention. Charles finds him a little “cruel” and immature, and is worried when Anthony invites him out to dinner.
Anthony has not gone through the British education system, which encourages rigid conformity, and has had a much broader cultural education. This means that Anthony does not fit in at Oxford. Anthony is a very strong character and, rather than try to fit in, he flaunts his unconventionality and uses it to challenge authority and make people uncomfortable. This suggests that Anthony would rather stand out and be himself than succumb to the implicit authority of British conventional values. Although Charles likes unconventional people, Anthony makes him nervous.
Themes
Anthony meets Charles at the student bar, the George, and orders four cocktails. Charles does not like the mixture, so Anthony drinks them all in a row, to the amazement of the students who surround them. Anthony takes Charles outside and the pair drive to a restaurant in the town. On the way, Anthony tells Charles that a group of students, led by Boy Mulcaster, arrived at his room the night before and tried to throw him in the fountain.
Anthony likes to draw attention to himself and to shock the other students. The boys have tried to throw Anthony in the fountain because he is different and, therefore, is a target. Anthony is persecuted by the other boys, because he does not fit in and will not compromise his behavior to do so, and this makes him, metaphorically, like a martyr.
Themes
Anthony explains that, before Boy and the others could grab him, he got into the fountain himself and posed provocatively for them. He overheard Boy say that, either way, they had put him in “Mercury,” and disdainfully remarks that Boy will still tell that story in 30 years’ time. Although he brushes it off with bravado, Charles notices that Anthony mentions the incident several times during the evening.
Fountains are associated with baptism in the novel, however, Anthony’s baptism in the fountain is ironic. Anthony is persecuted by the other boys, like a martyr—but unlike a martyr, Anthony refuses to submit to his tormentors, and instead, takes control of the situation. This is the opposite of a martyr, who submits passively to suffering. Anthony, therefore, is portrayed as an unholy character who rejects religion and will not submit to God. Although Anthony has seemingly stood up for himself, Boy and the others’ bullying clearly still upsets him.
Themes
While they are at dinner, Anthony says that he cannot imagine Sebastian being thrown in a fountain. Anthony monologues spitefully at Charles throughout dinner and complains that, at Eton, Sebastian never got beaten, although Anthony was often whipped for trivial things. Anthony observes sarcastically that everybody likes Sebastian and that, when he used to go to mass with him at school, Sebastian used to spend hours at confession, even though he never seemed to do anything wrong.
Anthony is jealous that, although Sebastian is also a social outsider (he, too, is Catholic who behaves eccentrically) people do not pick on him. Anthony feels that Sebastian sucks up to authority to avoid being ostracized. Although Anthony thinks that Sebastian wants to appear innocent, Sebastian’s time at confession suggests that, inside, Sebastian feels guilt and shame about who he is.
Themes
Anthony says that Charles is a natural artist. He has seen Charles’s sketches in his room and can tell that, underneath his reserved exterior, Charles is a passionate man. He claims he has tried to draw this to Sebastian’s attention, but Sebastian brushes him off with playful comments. Anthony asks Charles if he wishes Sebastian were with them and answers for him that, “of course,” he does.
Anthony tries to ingratiate himself with Charles by flattering him about his work. In doing so, Anthony is likely trying to tempt Charles away from Sebastian by suggesting that Sebastian does not appreciate Charles’s talent the way he would. And, by giving Charles knowledge about Sebastian’s family, he is seemingly trying to sabotage their budding relationship. This mirrors the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, in which a snake tempts Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge, which destroys their innocence. Charles and Sebastian’s relationship is associated with innocence, and Anthony is the outside force which tries to corrupt this. However, before the end of the night, Anthony knows that he has failed, which suggests that true love is powerful and can withstand temptation.
Themes
Anthony remarks that it is amazing Sebastian is so charming when he “comes from such a sinister family.” Anthony describes the Marchmain’s to Charles; he dislikes Julia, and Sebastian’s older brother, Brideshead, and knows nothing of the younger sister, Cordelia, except that her governess committed suicide. Lady Marchmain is a very beautiful, almost saintly woman, and Lord Marchmain is aristocratic and “Byronic” but cannot go out in public because of Lady Marchmain.
Anthony tells Charles about the Marchmain family to scare him away from Sebastian: he thinks Charles will want to avoid the scandal because he assumes that Charles, like his cousin Jasper, is conventional and likes to fit in with British society. Anthony assumes Charles will not risk his reputation to be associated with them. “Byronic” figures, like Lord Marchmain, are usually emotionally intense, misanthropic, and lead debauched and extravagant lives filled with luxury and excess. Knowing that Sebastian has a taste for luxury and extravagance for himself, this could perhaps mean that he will grow up to be similarly brooding and emotional like his father. This is something which Charles glamorizes and tries to emulate to a degree in later life.
Themes
In Venice, Anthony says, Lady Marchmain made a show of being very pious and Lord Marchmain could not go out when she was in the city. He left Lady Marchmain for a dancer in the war: something that, Anthony says, is not at all unusual. Still, Lady Marchmain refuses to get a divorce and acts as though her husband has treated her appallingly. She has a hoard of loyal followers, however: she is a bloodsucker, Anthony says, and leaves these stragglers with no life in them at all.
Anthony suggests that Catholic society takes Lady Marchmain’s side over Lord Marchmain’s. Catholics cannot get divorced, because marriage is a holy sacrament, and most Catholics feel that it was wrong for Lord Marchmain to leave his wife and break this religious vow. It was common, however, for men who fought in World War I to leave their families. Many were emotionally unable to return home after the life changing experience of war. Anthony suggests that Lady Marchmain uses and controls her followers and persuades them to do her bidding, which could perhaps suggest that Lord Marchmain left her because he felt too stifled in her presence.
Themes
Anthony thinks that, because of his background, Sebastian tries very hard to seem good and “insipid.” He isn’t very clever, Anthony says, so what else can he do? When Sebastian speaks, he says, it reminds him of a painting called Bubbles. On the drive home, Anthony says that, in the morning, Charles will tell Sebastian everything that he has said and that it will not make any difference to how Sebastian views Anthony. That night, Charles is left alone but sleeps badly and has “hagridden” nightmares.
Bubbles is a painting by John Everett Millais, a member of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, and depicts a young child who watches bubbles rise into the air. This associates Sebastian with an infant and suggests that his childish demeanor is an affectation rather than something genuine. It is implied that Charles is under a demonic spell, cast by Anthony, which he must resist. This suggests that Charles is engaged in a battle for his soul: he is caught between the innocent and pure Sebastian and the corrupt and experienced Anthony. This deliberately links the novel to religious stories about saints and martyrs, who battled with demons to resist spiritual corruption.
Themes
The next morning, Charles walks across the campus to Sebastian’s room. It is Sunday and nearly everyone else is on their way to church. He tells Sebastian about his evening with Anthony and asks him if Anthony knows his family. Sebastian says no, but that Anthony and Lady Marchmain may have met in Venice. Charles tells Sebastian that he thinks Anthony is “devilish” and nearly turned him against Sebastian. Sebastian brushes this off, however, and the pair are interrupted by the arrival of Boy Mulcaster.
Charles’s love for Sebastian is pure and heavenly: it is his version of worship. God is associated with love in the novel, and does not care how people worship so long as they feel love and have faith. Anthony is “devilish” because he has tried to tempt Charles away from Sebastian, who is angelic, the way a demon tempts its victims.
Themes
