Emily Inglethorp’s many wills represent the transactional nature of the relationships she has with most people in her life. Everyone, it seems, is somewhat eager to get something from her—namely, her money or financial support. Of course, characters like John Cavendish are more or less content to wait patiently until she dies, at which point her fortune will be divvied up amongst her loved ones. Other people, though, are a bit more anxious to attain her wealth—like, of course, Alfred Inglethorp and Evelyn Howard, who murder her just to steal her fortune. On a more immediate level, Emily’s wills also symbolize her shifting affinities and the way she tends to use her money to endear herself to people. For instance, she originally tells Cynthia that she will provide for her. In return, Cynthia lends a hand around the house, almost as if she’s an unofficial secretary or housekeeper. In the end, though, Emily doesn’t leave her anything in her will. What’s more, the fact that Emily draws up a new will every year or so suggests that she likes to keep her loved ones on their toes, perhaps as a way of making sure they treat her well and do what she wants. In this sense, the wills themselves come to stand for how money can complicate personal connections and even add a manipulative element to the way people approach their relationships with others.
The Wills Symbol Timeline in The Mysterious Affair at Styles
