Previous
Volume 2, Chapter 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Caleb Williams, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Hierarchy, Tyranny, and Oppression
The Legal System
Morality and Corruption
Reason vs. Passion
Truth and Justice
Summary
Analysis
Not long after Falkland confesses to Caleb, his half-brother, Mr. Forester, visits him. Falkland and Forester are different enough in personality that they don’t get along particularly well, and Forester finds Falkland too morose and unsociable to be good company. As a result, Forester turns to Caleb for friendly companionship during his stay at Falkland’s house. Caleb gladly spends time with Forester, but soon Falkland discourages Caleb from speaking with Forester too much.
Falkland fears that Caleb will reveal his secret or use it as leverage to gain power over him. As a result, Falkland tries to limit Caleb’s contact with other people. This is a controlling use of his power over Caleb, revealing that Falkland is not as benevolent as he once seemed. Additionally, this behavior exposes how paranoid Falkland is of his guilt being discovered after so many years of pretending innocence.
Themes
Caleb, however, doesn’t want to isolate himself from human company. He has no desire to let Falkland restrict his freedom, either. So, Caleb continues to spend time with Forester. Falkland then threatens Caleb with frightening punishments if he dares disobey further. Caleb grows angry. He feels he doesn’t deserve to be coerced to submit to Falkland’s will, so he resolves to do whatever he pleases, just as he would do if he were his own master. In the meantime, though, Forester has noticed Caleb drawing away and decides to end his visit. Forester leaves unhappily, claiming there’s “some ill destiny” hanging over Falkland’s house that makes “all its inhabitants miserable.”
Caleb balks at Falkland’s attempt at control. He values freedom and independence too much to obey rules that contradict his needs and wants. Eerily, Falkland’s threats are reminiscent of the ones Tyrrel once issued to his cousin, Emily Melvile, to frighten her into submission. This similarity suggests that Falkland is becoming tyrannical like Tyrrel out of fear of losing power over Caleb. Finally, Forester’s gloomy words foreshadow further unhappiness and misfortune for both Caleb and Falkland.
Themes
