Amaryllis at the Fair · Chapter
XIII explained
At a family dinner hosted by Grandfather Iden, Amaryllis watches as he distributes sovereigns to his descendants, culminating in a spade-guinea for her.
What happens
At a family dinner hosted by Grandfather Iden, Amaryllis watches as he distributes sovereigns to his descendants, culminating in a spade-guinea for her. She feels humiliated by her worn boots and angered by his neglect of her parents. When he later invites her for a walk, she rebels by hiding the guinea under a dressing-table.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Money
Grandfather Iden's distribution of sovereigns and the spade-guinea highlights the power of wealth and the sycophantic behavior of relatives vying for favor.
Family Conflict and Misunderstanding
The empty chair of Mr. Iden and Grandfather Iden's groan reveal deep familial estrangement and a missed opportunity for reconciliation.
Gender Roles and Female Experience
Amaryllis's shame over her worn boots and her mother's lack of decent footwear underscore the economic vulnerability of women in the family.
Characters to notice
- Amaryllis Iden
Sits in proud indignation at the dinner, ashamed of her cracked boot and furious at her grandfather's hypocrisy; she hides the spade-guinea under the dressing-table.
- Grandfather Iden
Distributes sovereigns and a spade-guinea; groans deeply while clinging to his son's empty chair, revealing a longing for reconciliation.
- Mr. Iden
His empty chair at the dinner table symbolizes the estrangement between him and his father.
- Mrs. Iden
Mentioned as having no decent boots and suffering from rheumatism due to dampness through a crack in her boot.
- Iden Pacha
Nicknamed by townsfolk; his pompous distribution of money and his treatment of Amaryllis's parents fuel her resentment.
Key passages
“if he had but had a patent of nobility, Grandfather Iden would have made a wonderfully good duke.”
Grandfather Iden's mannerisms and sense of entitlement would have suited a duke, had he been granted a title.
Highlights the ironic contrast between his actual status and his aristocratic pretensions.
“She actually felt lowered in her own esteem by being noticed at all among them.”
Being singled out by her grandfather among the sycophantic relatives diminished her self-respect.
Reflects Amaryllis's internal conflict and her rejection of her grandfather's approval.
“The Flamma blood was up in her veins—what did she care for guineas!”
Her fiery Flamma temper made her disdainful of the money offered by her grandfather.
Emphasizes her pride and defiance against material bribery.