The Woman in White

The Woman in White

by

Wilkie Collins

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The Woman in White: The Second Epoch: Part 4, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
The next section of the narrative is a transcript of the testament of Hester Pinhorn, who worked for Count Fosco as a cook in his house in London. She was taken into his service in the summer and, a couple of days after Count Fosco and Madame Fosco arrived in London, was told that his niece was coming to stay and that she was unwell. Shortly after his niece arrived, the doctor had to be called because the Count’s niece had a fit.
The narrative continues to present more “evidence” in the form of testimonies from various characters. Hester is hired around the time of Laura’s journey to London. A young woman is clearly brought to the Count’s house and introduced to the servants as his niece.
Themes
Evidence and Law Theme Icon
Morality, Crime, and Punishment Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
The doctor, Mr. Goodricke, was called and discovered that the lady suffered from heart disease which was very advanced. Count Fosco, on hearing this, began to weep and cry out, “Poor Lady Glyde!” The cook thought he was very sweet as he gathered flowers for Lady Glyde’s sick room. Lady Glyde spent a troubled night but seemed to recover slightly the next day. At five o’clock, however, she collapsed again and, when the doctor arrived, he pronounced her dead.
Count Fosco refers to this woman as Lady Glyde, or Laura. However, Anne Catherick told Laura that she is dying and, as the woman look so similar, it is difficult to tell which is which. Count Fosco makes a point of calling the young woman Lady Glyde in front of the servants and the doctor so that they believe that’s who she is.
Themes
Evidence and Law Theme Icon
Morality, Crime, and Punishment Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
Count Fosco appeared to be devastated by Lady Glyde’s death, and Madame Fosco was left to arrange the funeral. Hester heard that Lady Glyde was to be buried in Cumberland, in the family tomb, with her mother. She concludes her narrative by answering three questions which have been put to her. She answers that she never saw the Count give Lady Glyde any medicine, that she never knew the Count to be alone with Lady Glyde, and that she did not know what had given Lady Glyde a fright or caused her to fall into a swoon.
Hester seems to confirm that Count Fosco has not had a direct hand in the young woman’s death. He has not given her anything which might have been poisoned her, and he was not left alone with her where he could interfere with her in some way. Her death seems to have genuinely been caused by a weak heart, which gave out when she received a shock.
Themes
Evidence and Law Theme Icon
Morality, Crime, and Punishment Theme Icon