Agnes Grey · Chapter
The Ball explained
Agnes Grey returns from her four weeks' recreation to find the Murray sisters eager to share their news.
What happens
Agnes Grey returns from her four weeks' recreation to find the Murray sisters eager to share their news. Matilda boasts about her new mare and her hunting ambitions, while Rosalie recounts the grand ball she attended, detailing her admirers, including Sir Thomas Ashby, Henry Meltham, Mr. Green, and Mr. Hatfield. Rosalie also mentions the new curate, Mr. Weston, whom she dismisses as an 'insensate, ugly, stupid blockhead.' The chapter highlights Rosalie's vanity and her mercenary views on marriage.
Themes in this chapter
Gender Roles and Marriage
Rosalie's discussion of her admirers and her pragmatic, mercenary view of marriage illustrate the societal pressure on women to marry for status and wealth, rather than love.
Hypocrisy and Superficiality
Rosalie's vanity and her delight in being admired, along with her dismissive description of Mr. Weston, underscore the superficial values of the upper class.
Love and Genuine Connection
Agnes's questioning of Rosalie's views on conquests and marriage contrasts with Rosalie's shallow pursuit of admiration, highlighting the theme of genuine versus superficial relationships.
Characters to notice
- Agnes Grey
Returns from her four weeks' recreation and listens to the Murray sisters' accounts of the ball and Matilda's new mare.
- Rosalie Murray
Eagerly describes the ball, her admirers, and her dress; expresses mercenary views on marriage and dismisses Mr. Weston as ugly and stupid.
- Matilda Murray
Boasts about her new mare and her hunting skills, using coarse language; insists on telling her story first.
- Edward Weston
Mentioned as the new curate, described by Rosalie as an 'insensate, ugly, stupid blockhead.'
- Mr. Hatfield
Attended the ball as an admirer of Rosalie; refrained from dancing but looked eager to ask her hand.
- Thomas Ashby
Mentioned as one of Rosalie's admirers; described as young, rich, gay, but ugly and wicked; Rosalie considers him a potential husband.
Key passages
“I was charming —wasn’t I, Matilda?”
Rosalie seeks validation from her sister about her appearance at the ball.
Highlights Rosalie's vanity and need for admiration.
“I should think one conquest would be enough; and too much, unless the subjugation were mutual.”
Agnes suggests that a single romantic conquest is sufficient, and even excessive, unless the feelings are reciprocated.
Reflects Agnes's belief in mutual affection versus Rosalie's pursuit of multiple admirers.
“But the one I’m to have, I suppose, if I’m doomed to have any of them, is Sir Thomas Ashby.”
Rosalie resigns herself to the idea of marrying Sir Thomas Ashby, despite his wickedness and her dislike for him.
Illustrates Rosalie's pragmatic, mercenary approach to marriage.