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
Count Morano has gone back to Venice and has been locked up by the Senate somewhere that even his friends can’t find him. Montoni suspects that Count Morano is the one who orchestrated the attempt to poison him, so he arranges an anonymous letter that accuses the Count of serious crimes, which is what led to him being locked up.
Unlike Emily, who can be loyal to a fault, Montoni shows no loyalty at all to his former ally Count Morano, making up false accusations in order to keep him in prison. While Montoni seems to have won this conflict, his actions often seem to have unexpected consequences that come back to haunt him.
Themes
Eventually, Montoni fends off the siege at Udolpho and calls for Ugo to go find Bertrand and bring Emily back. Emily says goodbye to Maddelina, sad to leave but holding on hope that Valancourt may still be a prisoner in Udolpho. As Emily approaches the castle again, she sees traces of battle, including broken arrows and armor on the ground.
Emily continues to see evidence of the aftermath of violence (in this case the broken arrows and armor strewn everywhere) without witnessing the carnage firsthand. She seems to have a better understanding of its consequences (that is, death) than someone like Montoni, who believes he can use violence to his advantage.
Themes
When Emily finally makes it back to Udolpho, she tries immediately to see Annette, but it’s late and it seems perhaps Annette has already gone to bed. As Emily wanders around the dark castle, she thinks she hears Verezzi and Bertolini talking with Montoni about what to do with her.
Emily’s return to Udolpho seems to suggest that the immediate threats to Montoni’s rule are gone, yet Emily herself is in more danger than ever, now that Montoni has time to devote his full attention to her.
Themes
Emily goes back to her room and finally sees Annette again. They embrace, and Annette tells her how ever since the siege ended, Montoni and his men have just been drinking and fighting with each other. They both sense someone coming toward the chamber and fear danger, but it turns out it’s just Ludovico. He offers to sleep nearby, so that he can defend them if he hears any noise, and both of them appreciate it.
Montoni and his men seem to be in much the same condition they were when Emily left them, suggesting that not even the siege managed to make them change their ways. Just as he did after the death of Madame Montoni, Montoni avoids the topic of death by drinking.
Themes
Get the entire The Mysteries of Udolpho LitChart as a printable PDF.
The next morning, Emily sends Ludovico out to investigate about Valancourt and then meets with Montoni, who remains determined to make Emily sign some papers. He says that if she doesn’t, she’ll lose his protection. When she hesitates, he promise that she can go back to France if she signs the papers. Emily resists for a while before finally reluctantly agreeing to sign the papers for her own safety. But Montoni doesn’t let her leave, saying that he must go in person and obtain control of the estates himself before leaving. Emily is devastated.
Emily knows that Montoni has no good claim to her aunt’s property, and yet, Emily believes that her own life is more important than any physical possession. Unlike her aunt at first, Emily realizes by now that Montoni might well be serious about his threats of violence. Emily’s signing of the papers seems to suggest that at last Montoni has gotten what he wanted out of his marriage to the late Madame Montoni.
Themes
That night is stormy. As she’s in her chamber with Annette, Emily once again hears the music and tells Annette to listen. They can make out that a French voice is singing. Annette asks if it’s Valancourt. At first, Emily doesn’t think so, but a part of her is hopeful. Long after the music stops, until the morning light comes up, Emily keeps listening to try to hear more before finally retiring to bed.
Shortly after Montoni’s moment of triumph, there is a mighty storm, suggesting that perhaps Montoni is not out of danger yet. The French singing voice that Emily hears, in addition to making her recall Valancourt, continues to remind her of her life back home before coming to the castle.
Themes
