Ernestina’s father. Mr. Freeman has made his fortune through his draper’s store on Oxford Street. He exemplifies the upper-middle-class nouveau riche of the Victorian Era. Though he strives to be a gentleman and wants his daughter to gain an aristocratic title by marriage, he also disdains the aristocracy as lazy and snobbish. He and Charles don’t get along terribly well. They’ve argued about Darwin’s theory of evolution, and Mr. Freeman wants Charles to take over his business one day, which makes Charles feel trapped. After Charles breaks off his engagement to Ernestina, Mr. Freeman treats him harshly, making him sign a confession of guilt.
Mr. Freeman Quotes in The French Lieutenant’s Woman
The The French Lieutenant’s Woman quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Freeman or refer to Mr. Freeman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 38
Quotes
To be sure there was something base in his rejection—a mere snobbism, a letting himself be judged and swayed by an audience of ancestors....
But there was one noble element in his rejection: a sense that the pursuit of money was an insufficient purpose in life. He would never be a Darwin or a Dickens, a great artist or scientist; he would at worst be a dilettante, a drone, a what-you-will that lets others work and contributes nothing. But he gained a queer sort of momentary self-respect in his nothingness, a sense that choosing to be nothing... was the last saving grace of a gentleman; his last freedom, almost.
Related Characters:
Charles Smithson, Mr. Freeman
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Freeman Character Timeline in The French Lieutenant’s Woman
The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Freeman appears in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...before, because her mother sent her a letter about it. Charles admits that he and Mr. Freeman had a disagreement about Darwin’s ideas. Mr. Freeman said he didn’t want Ernestina to marry...
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Charles reassures Ernestina that his scientific disagreement with Mr. Freeman doesn’t matter. She points out that he hasn’t even noticed the fossils they’ve been walking...
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Chapter 11
...her back to her parents, and Ernestina cried in her mother’s arms while Charles and Mr. Freeman smiled at each other.
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Chapter 37
Though Ernestina’s father, Mr. Freeman , secretly despises the aristocracy, he’s so careful to act like a gentleman that it...
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Mr. Freeman listens to Charles solemnly and is silent when he finishes. They’re in Mr. Freeman’s study...
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Mr. Freeman confirms that Charles still has a decent income of his own, and points out that...
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Mr. Freeman opens Ernestina’s letter. Charles stares out a window into Hyde Park. He sees a girl...
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Charles suddenly feels like he’s become an employee. Mr. Freeman asks for permission to discuss another matter, though he seems unsure how to begin. Finally,...
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Charles protests that he doesn’t know anything about business, but Mr. Freeman says he has the necessary qualities. He isn’t suggesting any immediate changes, but eventually he...
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Mr. Freeman says he will never believe that humans are descended from monkeys, but he can understand...
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Chapter 38
...sense of irony and is naked. It now seems absurd that he went to visit Mr. Freeman rather than just sending a letter. The thought of having to be careful with money...
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Charles sees a girl buying candles and begins to think about commerce. He sees Mr. Freeman ’s offer as an insult to his class. He should have rejected it immediately. But...
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Charles finds himself on Oxford Street, by Mr. Freeman ’s store. He walks into the street to take in the whole store. People are...
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...life, though he couldn’t articulate his search to others. In any case, he knows that Mr. Freeman ’s store does not hold the meaning of life.
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...free will. But in reality, Charles feels trapped. He feels chilled with rage against everything Mr. Freeman stands for. He gets into a cab, and when he closes his eyes, he sees...
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Chapter 39
...actually very drunk. When they head out to take a drive, Charles feels embarrassed, sensing Mr. Freeman ’s judgment.
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Chapter 42
...Charles thinks about his life and concludes that things could change in the two years Mr. Freeman gave him to consider his future—his uncle could die. He remembers that he’ll soon be...
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...money once he’s married, and Sam realizes there is a secret. Charles says he’ll ask Mr. Freeman ’s advice for Sam. When Sam leaves, Charles worries that Sam is becoming deceitful. He...
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Chapter 47
...everything he knows has been destroyed. He’s vaguely aware of the judgment of Ernestina and Mr. Freeman . He stares at the ceiling and pulls Sarah closer, and she takes his hand....
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Chapter 50
...can say what he has to say. Confused, she sits. She has a letter from Mr. Freeman , and Charles says that he didn’t tell her father the truth, which is that...
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...Charles has suddenly come to this conclusion, and he replies that he was disappointed that Mr. Freeman didn’t break off their engagement. He mentions that Mr. Freeman wanted him to join the...
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...to the floor, but her faint doesn’t seem quite real. He says he’ll write to Mr. Freeman , and he rings for Mary. Charles meets her in the hall, saying he’s going...
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Chapter 56
Before long, Charles receives a letter from Mr. Freeman ’s lawyers telling him to go to their offices at an appointed time. Charles brings...
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Mr. Aubrey, one of Mr. Freeman ’s lawyers, says that Charles’s letter to Mr. Freeman is evidence of his guilt. Mr....
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...of. Charles is red, and Serjeant Murphy glares at him. However, Mr. Aubrey says that Mr. Freeman wants to be merciful and not bring Charles to court, as long as he’ll sign...
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...put it to. Montague says she could put it in the newspaper, but he thinks Mr. Freeman wants to keep everything quiet.
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...if necessary. Charles agrees, but he wants to know how Ernestina is. They return to Mr. Freeman ’s party and sign the document. Mr. Freeman starts to threaten Charles, but Aubrey stops...
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Chapter 57
...for his marriage, he gave her information. Mrs. Tranter likes helping people, so she convinced Mr. Freeman to give Sam a job in his store.
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Sam learned quickly in his new job. One day Mr. Freeman walked to work, but as soon as he entered the store he went back out....
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Mr. Freeman said this was the best window display all year and instructed that the slogan be...
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...wants to start a shop of his own, but Mary insists that he continue at Mr. Freeman ’s store. They’re becoming wealthier, and Mary has recently interviewed eleven girls to find a...
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Chapter 59
...afraid to get attached to any of them because of the document he signed for Mr. Freeman .
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