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Chapter 3. A Controversy
Explanation and Analysis—Gilbert and Arthur:
As Helen’s two love interests in the novel, Gilbert and Arthur act as foils for each other. Arthur is a cruel, abusive alcoholic who wastes his wealth and consistently cheats on Helen, while Gilbert is a caring farmer who (mostly) treats Helen with respect and values his Christian faith. Readers are meant to understand Helen’s marriage to Gilbert as the antidote to her terrible marriage with Arthur.
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Chapter 13. A Return to Duty
Explanation and Analysis—Eliza and Helen:
As Gilbert’s two love interests in the novel, Eliza and Helen act as foils for each other. Though Gilbert starts off the novel flirting with Eliza and considering her to be a potential romantic match for him, he comes to see how—unlike Helen—she has a cruel side.
The following passage shows Gilbert’s growing awareness of Eliza’s unkind character:
Unlock with LitCharts A+But Eliza took advantage of the first convenient pause to ask if I had lately seen Mrs Graham, in a tone of merely casual enquiry, but with a sidelong glance – intended to be playfully mischievous – really, brimful and running over with malice.
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Chapter 21. Opinions
Explanation and Analysis—Annabella and Helen:
As Arthur’s two main love interests in the novel, Annabella and Helen act as foils for each other. Though Annabella at first presents herself as a kind friend to Helen—telling her that marrying Arthur would not be a good idea because of his debaucherous nature—her true character starts to come out later in the novel.
For example, she targets Lord Lowborough for marriage because she wants his aristocratic title for herself—she does not actually care about or respect him. This comes across in the following passage, in which Annabella reveals her true intentions to Helen:
Unlock with LitCharts A+“I wish,” returned [Annabella], with a short laugh, “that all the attractive points and desirable qualifications of the two gentlemen were united in one – that Lord Lowborough had Huntingdon’s handsome face and good temper, and all his wit, and mirth and charm, or else that Huntingdon had Lowborough’s pedigree, and title, and delightful old family seat, and I had him; and you might have the other and welcome.”
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Chapter 27. A Misdemeanor
Explanation and Analysis—Helen and Arthur:
As the two characters in the novel with the most divergent personalities and characteristics—as well as the two characters tied up in the central conflict—Helen and Arthur act as foils for each other.
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Chapter 30. Domestic Scenes
Explanation and Analysis—Arthur and Hattersley:
As two debaucherous and unfaithful husbands who take divergent paths, Arthur and Hattersley act as foils for each other. The following passage shows Arthur reflecting on how his friend’s behavior at the beginning of the novel is much like his own in that he abuses alcohol and has affairs without any care for his wife:
Unlock with LitCharts A+He might amuse himself just as he pleased, in regular bachelor style, and [his wife Milicent] never complained of neglect; he might come home at any hour of the night or morning, or not come home at all; be sullen sober, or glorious drunk; and play the fool or the madman to his own heart’s desire without any fear or botheration. She never gives him a word of reproach or complaint, do what he will.
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