Previous
Chapter 10
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Wives and Daughters, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Friendship
Class, Status, and Romance
Independence, Opportunities, and Gender
Challenges, Growth, and Community
Gossip and Rumors
Summary
Analysis
Clare thinks about—and in fact, wouldn’t mind—leaving her teaching job before the end of the year now that she and Mr. Gibson are engaged. Both Mr. Gibson and Lady Cumnor, though, think she should stay on until the end of her contract and not disappoint her students and their parents. Before the Thursday meeting at Cumnor Towers between Molly and Clare, it’s hard to tell who is less excited about it. Clare worries that Molly will be similar to her students, whom Clare is quite tired of.
This passage explores Clare’s personality in more depth and shows how her personality contrasts with Gibson’s. In particular, while Clare seems to want to move on from her role as a teacher as quickly as possible, Gibson thinks it’s Clare’s duty to stay on until the end of the year, suggesting that there might be differences, and possible sources of friction, in Gibson and Clare’s varying views on duty and on what is right.
Active
Themes
When the day of the meeting finally comes, Molly goes to Cumnor Towers. She tries to put on a brave face and make the best of the situation, but she finds Clare disingenuous, and she also notices that Clare is prone to talking about herself, even when Molly asks about other people. Lady Cumnor then asks to see them both. While the three are talking, Lady Cumnor proposes the idea that Molly should accompany Clare back to school, thus solving the problem of where Molly will live before Clare and Mr. Gibson are married. Neither Molly nor Clare likes the idea. Molly begins crying and says she doesn’t want to be apart from her father.
The passage continues to explore Clare’s personality. While Molly’s skepticism about Clare might not make her the most reliable judge of Clare’s character, it’s telling that the first things that Molly notices about Clare’s personality are Clare’s inauthenticity and self-centeredness. Those characteristics seem antithetical to who Molly and Gibson are as people. In light of this, it’s possible that these clashing personalities may possibly become sources of tension later on.
Active
Themes
After Molly and Clare leave Lady Cumnor, who is still ill, they walk through the gardens with their arms around each other’s waists. That night, they eat dinner with Mr. Gibson at Cumnor Towers, while Lady Cumnor remains in her room. During dinner, Gibson says he heard about Lady Cumnor’s idea for Molly to stay with Clare at her school until she and Gibson are married. Molly isn’t prepared to stand up to her father. Clare gently suggests that it might not be the best idea, but Gibson says it would help regarding the matter that he told Clare about, alluding to Mr. Coxe’s feelings for Molly. Molly is annoyed and a little jealous that Gibson told Clare why he sent Molly to stay with the Hamleys but didn’t tell Molly.
Active
Themes
After dinner, Molly returns to the Hamleys’ house, where she finds Roger. Molly tries to remain cheerful when recounting the day’s events, but Roger can tell that she’s upset. He tells Molly that over time, she’ll be happy about what has happened. Molly says not only will she not be happy about the marriage, but she’ll never be happy again. Roger says that her life will be full of trials. He feels like a mentor to her. Mrs. Hamley then comes into the room where Molly and Roger are and asks about Molly’s day before they all go to bed. Over the next few days, Roger and Molly grow closer. Whenever she’s distraught, Molly feels better after talking to Roger.
Get the entire Wives and Daughters LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
