# Mirth and Mourning explained — Agnes Grey

> Chapter companion for Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë.

## What happens

Rosalie Murray marries Sir Thomas Ashby and becomes Lady Ashby, a day of festal sadness for Agnes. After the wedding, Agnes visits Nancy Brown, hoping for news of Mr. Weston but finding none. On Sunday, she sees Mr. Weston unchanged. Meanwhile, Matilda Murray struggles with boredom and her mother's new restrictions, and Agnes receives permission to go home upon news of her father's death, arriving to find he has already passed.

## Themes in this chapter

### Gender Roles and Marriage

Rosalie's marriage is portrayed as a social transaction rather than a love match, with Agnes and Nancy both viewing it with sorrow rather than joy, reflecting the limited options for women.

### The Plight of the Governess

Agnes is reprimanded for failing to control Matilda, expected to devote herself entirely to her pupils, and her personal grief is dismissed by Mrs. Murray, illustrating the governess's subordinate and isolated position.

## Character check-ins

### Agnes Grey

Bids farewell to Rosalie after her wedding, visits Nancy Brown, observes Mr. Weston unchanged, and later receives news of her father's death, returning home to find him dead.

### Rosalie Murray

Marries Sir Thomas Ashby, becomes Lady Ashby, and bids a tearful goodbye to Agnes, showing unexpected affection.

### Matilda Murray

Left without companions after Rosalie's marriage, struggles with her mother's new restrictions on her activities and is bored and restless.

### Nancy Brown

Agnes visits her after the wedding; her eyes are nearly well, and she shares Agnes's sorrowful view of the marriage.

### Edward Weston

Agnes sees him on Sunday and finds him unchanged in manner and speech; he does not join Agnes and Matilda after church.

### Richard Grey

Agnes's father, whose death is reported upon her arrival home.

## Key lines

> Now, Miss Grey, I'm Lady Ashby! ... It's done, my fate is sealed: there's no drawing back now.

Rosalie announces her marriage with a mix of excitement and desperation, acknowledging her fate is fixed.

_Highlights the irreversible nature of her social ascent and personal resignation._

> I cannot congratulate you, till I know whether this change is really for the better: but I sincerely hope it is; and I wish you true happiness and the best of blessings.

Agnes withholds congratulations, expressing hope rather than certainty about Rosalie's future happiness.

_Reflects Agnes's moral integrity and her skepticism about marriage as a guarantee of happiness._

> And instead of repining, Miss Grey, be thankful for the privileges you enjoy. There's many a poor clergyman whose family would be plunged into ruin by the event of his death; but you, you see, have influential friends ready to continue their patronage, and to show you every consideration.

Mrs. Murray dismisses Agnes's grief over her father's illness, reminding her to be grateful for continued patronage.

_Illustrates the emotional neglect and class condescension faced by governesses._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/agnes_grey_se/chapters/xviii-mirth-and-mourning
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/agnes_grey_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/agnes_grey_se/chapters