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Chapter 2
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
Sixteen years earlier, Mr. Gibson first came to Hollingford as a partner in the practice of Mr. Hall, the town’s doctor. People in town were initially skeptical of Mr. Gibson and resisted what they perceived as his intrusion on them. They speculated that he was from Scotland because he had a slight Scottish accent. There was even a rumor that claimed he was the illegitimate son of a noble Scotsman and a French woman. In reality, no one actually knew where he came from or how he arrived in Hollingford. Though people in town had been initially skeptical of Mr. Gibson, a year after his arrival, he was warmly welcomed and even received an invitation to dine at Cumnor Towers, a sign of how highly respected he was
This backstory explains how Mr. Gibson came to live in Hollingford and about the details of Molly’s childhood. Notably, no one knows exactly where Mr. Gibson came from, and that lack of information causes people to come up with stories and start rumors, showing the tendency of people in Hollingford (and perhaps Victorian society generally) to take the incomplete information they have and use it to jump to conclusions and spread rumors. Ultimately, though, Mr. Gibson overcomes the town’s less-than-warm initial reception to become a valued member of the community. Even so, this passage sheds light on the potential harm that can result when people spread rumors, which will be a recurring theme throughout the remainder of the story.
Active
Themes
Literary Devices
As Mr. Hall began to practice medicine less, he invited a grand-niece named Mary Pearson to help look after him and keep him company. Not long after Mary arrived, she and Mr. Gibson fell in love and married. Four or five years later, though, she died of consumption, when her only daughter, Molly, was three years old. Mr. Gibson tried to go on with life as best he could, and he eventually seemed to settle into his new reality, in which he would be a permanent widower. During that time, he focused most of his attention, when he wasn’t at work, on Molly.
This passage shows the tragedy that underlies Molly and Mr. Gibson’s lives. In some ways, the novel suggests that after Mary’s death, Gibson became stuck in a state of stasis and was unable to fully move forward from his grief. The passage also suggests that the closeness between Molly and her father was perhaps borne out of the tragedy of Mary’s death, as, after Mary died, Mr. Gibson focused most of his attention on Molly.
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Themes
Mr. Gibson had three servants who lived in the house. Betty was the oldest and most experienced servant. Gibson also often had two apprentices, young men who paid hefty sums for the privilege of learning from such an esteemed doctor. Mr. Gibson found the apprentices’ presence awkward, and the issue became more pronounced as Molly got older and often found herself dining alone with the apprentices. Mr. Gibson then decided to hire a governess named Miss Eyre to look after and tutor Molly.
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Themes
Mr. Gibson instructed Miss Eyre not to teach Molly too much. In his mind, he wasn’t sure women really needed to know how to read and write. However, one must “yield” to society, he thought, and so he gave Miss Eyre permission to teach Molly certain subjects. Miss Eyre taught Molly to read and write, and Molly read every book she could get her hands on. Miss Eyre and Betty didn’t get along, and one day, after Betty insulted Miss Eyre, Molly passionately spoke out in defense of Miss Eyre. Miss Eyre was alarmed by Molly’s temper, though, and told her to try and avoid being so emotional in the future. Molly was confused, as she considered her anger just. Overall, though, Molly had a happy childhood.
Active
Themes
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