Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Mysteries of Udolpho, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Marriage, Love, and Inheritance
The Wonders of Nature
Mystery and Superstition
Mortality
The Value of Education and Art
Summary
Analysis
Emily stays in her chamber late the next morning. There is still no sign of Madame Montoni, and Annette’s wailing lets Emily know that Ludovico is still missing too. Emily goes to see Montoni, who says simply that Madame Montoni “is taken care of.” Emily goes back to her chamber and cries. She is very hungry, but fortunately, Carlo brings her some fruit and wine. Emily asks him to find Annette, wherever she is, and send her.
The mystery hanging over this chapter and the next couple chapters is whether or not Madame Montoni is still alive. Madame Montoni’s situation parallels Montoni’s earlier situation with Signora Laurentini, as she also disappeared and may or may not have died.
Themes
When Annette arrives, she’s still sobbing about Ludovico. Emily thinks he’s dead, but in fact he’s only been wounded. Emily continues to fear for her aunt for the rest of the day, but there is no more excitement in the castle. Two more days pass, still with no word of Madame Montoni. One afternoon, Emily is surprised to hear music—and not just the warlike sound of trumpets and fifes. She wonders if the sound is supernatural but figures that if it is indeed a human, she’ll probably hear it again.
Music once again plays a dual role in the story, suggesting something potentially dangerous and supernatural but also reminding Emily that there is beauty in the world during a dark moment of her life. The narration draws a distinction between the pleasant music Emily hears, which is very different from the music of war trumpets and fifes. Emily is, true to her nature, particularly interested in music that’s simply beautiful.
Themes
