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Chapter 4
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Charlotte Temple, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Temptation and Vice
Regret, Guilt, and Shame
Deceit and Manipulation
Kindness, Compassion, and Forgiveness
Honor, Reputation, and Social Status
Wealth, Poverty, and Happiness
Summary
Analysis
Miss Weatherby is very beautiful but lacks emotional depth and substance. She fixates on Mr. Temple and desperately wants him to be her husband, but he refuses to marry her. He doesn’t care about her riches—the only way money would matter to him would be if he could somehow share it with Lucy. In turn, he decides to turn down Miss Weatherby and propose to Lucy. His decision enrages his father, who says he never wants to see him again. Mr. Temple’s father also decides to offer himself to Miss Weatherby instead, thinking this will be a good way of securing more wealth for himself. Miss Weatherby accepts his offer, wanting to take revenge on Mr. Temple.
Mr. Temple’s decision to not marry Miss Weatherby is in keeping with his values. After all, he doesn’t believe in getting married for such superficial reasons, since he has seen how unhappy his siblings became after marrying in order to secure wealth and status. Plus, he has strong feelings for Lucy, and though her family doesn’t have any money, he has already made his peace with living a modest life on what remains of his inheritance. For him, then, living a frugal life full of love is much better than a loveless life full of money.
Active
Themes
Mr. Temple is hurt by his father’s decision to marry Miss Weatherby, but he focuses on his relationship with Lucy. They don’t need much money—they will be happy with each other as long as they can lead a simple life and sustain themselves by farming. Lucy accepts his marriage proposal, and they lead a happy life in a small cottage, eventually giving birth to Charlotte, whom they love dearly. Because Lucy never got to finish her own education, the Temples send Charlotte to school, where she studies under Madame Du Pont.
