Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Woman in White, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Evidence and Law
Morality, Crime, and Punishment
Identity and Appearance
Marriage and Gender
Class, Industry, and Social Place
Summary
Analysis
Once in her room, Marian writes her two letters—one to Mr. Kyrle and one to Mr. Fairlie—imploring them to help her and Laura out of their terrible situation. She runs to Laura’s room to show her the letters. Laura tells Marian to speak quietly because she has heard Madame Fosco’s dress rustle outside her door. Marian plans to run to the village, where she will give the letters to Fanny, and be back before dinner. On the way out, she meets Madame Fosco and pretends to return indoors to dress for dinner. Seeing that the Countess has gone to her room to dress, Marian slips out again and makes for the village.
Marian and Laura must rely on the evidence of their senses to guess when they are being spied on. The rustle of Madame Fosco’s dress outside Laura’s door seems to prove that Madame Fosco is keeping tabs on them. Marian attempts to mislead Count Fosco and Madame Fosco as she pretends to go upstairs before she sneaks out, so that they will think she is in her room. The women are imprisoned, but must also keep up a façade of politeness and civility.
Themes
Marian reaches the Inn that Fanny is staying at and gives her the two letters. Fanny is distraught at being dismissed but Marian calms her enough to give her instructions on where to post the letters. When Marian arrives back at the house, Laura tells her that Sir Percival has been hammering on her door and demanding that she tell him all she knows about Anne Catherick.
Fanny is a dedicated servant to Laura and is devastated to have lost her place. Sir Percival’s temper gets the better of him again, as he seems obsessed with finding out what Laura knows about him.
Themes
The group go downstairs for dinner. Marian notices that Count Fosco and Sir Percival are unusually sullen and quiet throughout the meal. As the women get up to leave the table, Sir Percival demands that Count Fosco remain with him to discuss a private matter. Count Fosco coldly and firmly refuses. In the drawing room, while they are having tea, Count Fosco brings in the postbag and deliberately holds it out to Marian to see if she has any letters to send. She declines and Marian notices that Madame Fosco rushes to make the tea. The Count plays the piano and talks with Marian about music—in a strangely sinister way—for a while before he leaves to discuss business with Sir Percival.
There is some tension between the two men, and it seems that they have had a disagreement. Sir Percival tries to exert his control over Count Fosco, but the Count makes it clear that he will decide when it is best for him and Sir Percival to talk. Count Fosco apparently knows that Marian has found a way to deliver letters without using the postbag, and offers her the bag to intimidate her.
Themes
Marian goes to Laura’s room for a while. When she returns to the library, she sees that Madame Fosco looks flushed and breathless. Marian asks if she is unwell, and the Countess replies that she thinks Marian looks unwell too and rather pale. The Countess suggests that Marian should have had a walk before dinner to liven her up. Marian blames her paleness on a headache and retires early to bed.
Madame Fosco has clearly been out of the house and hurried to get back before she is noticed, implying that she has gone to intercept the letters that Marian took to the village. She hints at this when she pointedly remarks that Marian should have had a walk before dinner; it implies that she knows that Marian went to the village.
Themes
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