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
While Charles and Julia finalize their divorces and Brideshead prepares to get married, Lord Marchmain suddenly announces that he will return to Brideshead. This dashes Beryl’s hopes, as she and Brideshead were meant to take over the family home, and they rent a villa elsewhere. Charles, Julia, and Cordelia remain at Brideshead to greet Lord Marchmain, who arrives after the New Year. Plender arrives before him to ensure household is prepared.
As the eldest son, Brideshead hopes to inherit Brideshead Castle from his father and make it a home for Beryl and her family. Beryl’s hopes to transcend social status reflect the gradual displacement of the aristocracy and the upper classes during this period. “True” nobility (those born into wealth) were gradually overtaken, in terms of wealth and social status, by members of the middle and lower classes who either married into noble families or earned their money elsewhere.
Themes
When Lord Marchmain arrives, Julia and Charles are shocked to find that he has aged drastically and is very unwell. He walks with a stick, and Cara, who is with him, carries his medicine. He has been unwell, but they did not realize how ill he was. On his arrival, Lord Marchmain tells Wilcox and Plender that he wants to sleep downstairs. The “Chinese drawing room”—an elaborately decorated chamber, which Charles has never seen used—is prepared.
Lord Marchmain has kept the severity of his illness a secret from his children. Lord Marchmain’s whim is childish and impractical, and suggests that, as he grows closer to death, he is regressing back to more childish whims. This suggests that death is not the end of life but the beginning of a new life in which one will be redeemed, cleansed of sin, and returned to the innocent state of childhood and purity—a state which many of the characters strive toward throughout the novel.
Themes
Lord Marchmain seems pleased that his request has thrown the household into disarray. He complains bitterly about Brideshead’s marriage to Beryl, who he finds unbearably common, and brusquely asks Charles what he will do in the war as an artist. Charles finds that Lord Marchmain’s bad temper is “new.” Later, Cara tells Charles that Lord Marchmain has “come home to die” and that he has a problem with his heart.
Lord Marchmain will not admit he is dying, but Cara knows this is the case. Without his faith, Lord Marchmain has no hope for life after death. This makes him bitter and cruel, as demonstrated by his cold treatment of Brideshead and Charles. Lord Marchmain is elitist, and mirrors Charles’s perspective that the prevalence of lower class people in roles and social positions once filled only by the upper classes is a travesty, and a reflection of modern society’s degeneration.
Themes
Cordelia takes charge of her father’s care and sits up with him on the first night. She says that he fell asleep quickly but that, after she turned out the lights, he got up and turned them back on. She says he is afraid of the dark. The doctors visit and say that they cannot do much for him but cannot say how long he will live.
Darkness is associated with death, and Lord Marchmain’s refusal to sleep with the lights off suggests that he is afraid to die. He is not religious and does not believe in an afterlife or resurrection, notions that tend to give people a sense of meaning that dispels the darkness and meaninglessness associated with death.
Themes
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Lord Marchmain complains frequently about Beryl. He does not want her to inherit Brideshead and finds her vulgar and crude. Lord Marchmain says he will leave the house to Julia and Charles, but Julia objects that it belongs to Brideshead. As time goes on, they realize that he is serious, and Charles wonders if the beautiful, solitary house (which he once dreamed of sharing with Sebastian) will be his.
Lord Marchmain looks down on Beryl because she is middle-class, and he is upper-class. He is old-fashioned and elitist, and therefore does not believe in marriage between classes. He does not want his ancestors’ home passed on to someone whom he does not feel is good enough. Charles seems more interested in the house and what it represents (his time with Sebastian) than he is in Julia.
Themes
Lord Marchmain’s illness is slow but progressive. Some days, he seems like his old self, and even once arranges to go out in his car. He changes his mind, however, and remains at home. However, he also has days when he is very ill. When Brideshead and Beryl come to stay, he refuses to see them, and Charles feels guilty because he knows that Beryl thinks that her husband will inherit the house.
Lord Marchmain is in denial about his illness. He tries to behave like his old self but cannot. As the eldest son, Brideshead expects to inherit the family home. Charles knows that Lord Marchmain plans to leave it to he and Julia, but he keeps this a secret from Beryl. This suggests that Charles colludes against the middle classes to prevent social change and keep wealth in the hands of the nobility, whom he romanticizes and aspires to join.
Themes
Lord Marchmain’s health declines further, and two nurses are brought from London. Brideshead is informed that his father is dying, and comes back to the house without Beryl. Brideshead says his father must see a priest, but Charles objects. He tells Julia in private that they should let Lord Marchmain die in peace. Julia thinks the subject will cause a row and says she does not know what is best to do.
Brideshead does not care that his father is not Catholic: this is not important to him because he believes Lord Marchmain can still be redeemed. Charles wants Lord Marchmain’s wishes to be respected, but the others feel that Lord Marchmain does not know what is best for him. Julia does not automatically side with Charles, which suggests that she regrets her decision to leave the church.
Themes
Cordelia and Cara side with Brideshead, but Charles still strongly objects. Julia becomes irritated when he complains about it, and seems conflicted about the issue. Charles notices that her bad moods grow more frequent and that she pulls away from him. One morning, at breakfast, Brideshead tells Charles that Cordelia will bring a priest to the house. Father Mackay arrives and eats breakfast with them. Afterwards, he asks to see Lord Marchmain.
Julia grows irritated with Charles because, secretly, she thinks he is wrong. She wishes to return to the Church. Charles can see that this will cause a breach between them, as he dislikes religion. They will be on different sides of a conflict for the first time and this suggests that war, as a pervasive aspect of daily life in the 20th century, has even worked its way into their relationship.
Themes
Cordelia and Brideshead take him into the room, but the three exit a moment later and Cordelia and Brideshead apologize to the priest. Father Mackay is unruffled and says that Lord Marchmain may still have a “beautiful death.” Charles goes upstairs to see Julia and tells her triumphantly that Lord Marchmain dismissed the priest.
Lord Marchmain has clearly been rude to Father Mackay and sent him out of the room. Charles is happy about this because he feels that he has been proven right. He does not really think about other people’s beliefs and wishes, but rather sees the issue of the priest as an argument that he wants to win. Charles’s attitude has become competitive and warlike, rather than kind and loving.
Themes
On Brideshead’s last evening, he brings up the subject again and says that, although his father dismissed the priest, he may still change his mind. Charles says that Brideshead is nitpicking and that Lord Marchmain made himself clear, but Cara and Cordelia still hold out hope. Charles asks them to explain exactly why a priest is important, and there is a dispute between Cara and Cordelia over what the sacraments mean.
Charles thinks that Brideshead is arrogant and selfish, because he wishes to force religion on Lord Marchmain. However, Charles is just as egotistical and wants to prove his own point: that Catholicism is pointless and stupid. Charles tries to prove this by picking holes in their beliefs.
Themes
Charles says that the priest is not necessary because only God will know if Lord Marchmain truly repents. Brideshead says this is true, but still feels the priest is important. Cara says that when she dies, she will have a priest, and Cordelia says this is the best idea. When Charles and Julia go to bed, she complains that he is always starting arguments. Charles says that he just wants to know what Catholics believe, as they all seem to say different things. Julia questions whether Charles is genuinely agnostic since he is so concerned with Catholics.
Ritual is important in Catholicism, and although the relationship between God and the individual is the most important, the rituals and sacraments directed by priests play an important symbolic role. Cordelia has faith, and therefore does not need to understand logically to believe. Her faith is based in surrender to God’s authority and love, which is the result of genuine belief, rather than a need for proof. Julia disagrees with Charles but cannot bring herself to acknowledge this yet.
Themes
Charles’s divorce is finalized, and his wedding to Julia arranged. However, as it draws closer, Charles begins to feel that Julia does not really think it will happen. Charles signs up at the “war office” so that he will be called up if necessary. As Lord Marchmain’s illness progresses, he grows more introspective. Lord Marchmain hates to be left alone but does not pay attention to people when they are there.
Julia does not really want to marry Charles but cannot admit this to herself. They are now on different sides, whereas they used to be united against the world. Lord Marchmain links loneliness and death, because without God, death is total isolation with no hope of resurrection.
Themes
As his death approaches, Lord Marchmain talks to himself about his life. He murmurs that he will soon be well and will see the outdoors again. He says that his family live a long time and talks of his Aunt Julia who was alive when Brideshead was built and who lived to be 88. He talks of his ancient bloodline and the way the house was built. He complains that he has always lived well and felt young and that, when it is summer, he will be able to breathe again. He does not realize it is summer outside.
Lord Marchmain cannot accept the idea of his own death. He is attached to the material world and views himself as too important to die. He wants to be exempt from it, although it is unavoidable. These are very common emotions and, Waugh suggests, religion and belief in an afterlife are the only solutions.
Themes
Lord Marchmain is given an oxygen tank to help him breathe. He asks Cordelia what happened to the chapel at Brideshead, and she says it has been closed. Lord Marchmain asks if she thinks it was a sin for him to leave her mother, and Cordelia says yes. Lord Marchmain wonders if he is being punished.
Like Julia, Lord Marchmain is no longer a Catholic, but still views the world according to Catholic rules about sin. This suggests that although people can leave the Church, religion can still have a powerful hold on their beliefs and worldview.
Themes
In mid-July, Cordelia goes to London for the day and Lord Marchmain suddenly takes a turn for the worse. Julia says that she will send for the priest, and Charles knows that she has wanted this all along. Cara says that she wants Lord Marchmain to be happy when he dies and does not want to make him afraid, although she does want a priest present. The doctor says that the shock may kill him, and Charles tries to talk her out of calling the priest.
It is ironic that Charles and the doctor worry about Lord Marchmain’s death, as it is inevitable that he is going to die. It is implied that the Catholic characters are more sensible in this case, because they worry about his life after death rather than prolonging his material life, which now only consists of pain and suffering.
Themes
This does not work, however, and Julia fetches Father Mackay. Charles tries to persuade the priest not to go in, since Lord Marchmain rejected him the first time, but Father Mackay thinks it possible that Lord Marchmain has changed his mind. Besides, he says, Christ cares for sinners more than he does “the righteous.”
Whereas religious people are often stereotyped as being close-minded, the Catholic characters in this passage seem more open-minded that Charles. They have hope and faith, whereas Charles has closed his mind to these things. In Catholicism, it is believed that God loves sinners more because they are the ones who need love and forgiveness most.
Themes
Julia leads Father Mackay into Lord Marchmain’s room and the others follow. He lies with the oxygen mask on, and the nurse says that he is close to death. Julia kneels to pray, and the priest begins to ask Lord Marchmain if he regrets his sins. Charles watches, horrified. As the priest continues, he begins to hope desperately that Lord Marchmain will make a sign of contrition. Father Mackay anoints Lord Marchmain’s brow with oil and, for a moment, Charles thinks the old man will wipe it off. Lord Marchmain lifts his hand, however, and makes the sign of the cross.
This deathbed scene represents a struggle for Lord Marchmain’s soul. According to Catholicism, he will be saved if he repents, but if not, he will be damned. Deathbed scenes like this were extremely common in devotional art in the Middle Ages. Charles hopes Lord Marchmain will repent because he knows that the family will be heartbroken if they believe he is damned. Lord Marchmain’s sign suggests that he does repent, accepts God’s forgiveness.
Themes
Charles follows Father Mackay out and offers him money for his services. The priest takes three pounds for the church and says that Lord Marchmain had a “beautiful” redemption. Lord Marchmain dies that night, and in the confusion, Julia and Charles meet for the last time, by the stairs in the hall. Julia confesses that she cannot be with Charles because he is not religious, and she must have “God’s mercy.” Charles says that he has known for a year that she feels this way but knows she did not know it herself. He leaves her bitterly and tells her that he “hopes her heart will break.”
Father Mackay is pleased with this outcome because he feels that the harder the struggle of repentance is, the greater the reward there will be for the person in Heaven. This is because suffering is a sign of godliness and reflects Christ’s suffering on Earth for the redemption of mankind. Julia finally admits that she regrets leaving the Church and acknowledges that Charles must become a sincere Catholic for them to be together. She already knows that Charles will not do this, and Charles thus feels that she has betrayed their love and hates her for it.
Themes
