Anna of the Five Towns · Chapter
XI: The Downfall explained
The chapter details the aftermath of Titus Price's suicide, which shocks the town and the Methodist community.
What happens
The chapter details the aftermath of Titus Price's suicide, which shocks the town and the Methodist community. Anna Tellwright, burdened by guilt for having pressed Price for rent, learns of the tragedy from Henry Mynors. She confronts her father's harshness and her own complicity. The chapter also covers Anna's return from the Isle of Man, her engagement to Mynors, and her father's cynical remarks about Mynors' motives.
Themes in this chapter
Religious Hypocrisy and Methodism
The suicide of a prominent Wesleyan worker shocks the congregation, exposing the tension between public piety and private despair.
Money and Moral Corruption
Anna's guilt over pressing Price for rent and Ephraim's cynical view of Mynors' motives illustrate how money corrupts relationships and moral judgment.
Guilt and Redemption
Anna is haunted by her role in Price's downfall, feeling remorse that she was enjoying herself while he died. She seeks emotional redemption through her engagement.
Characters to notice
- Anna Tellwright
Anna is consumed by guilt over Titus Price's suicide, feeling that she and her father drove him to it. She also navigates her engagement to Mynors and her father's coldness.
- Henry Mynors
Mynors informs Anna of Price's suicide and shows considerateness in arranging her travel. He is cheerful about their engagement despite the tragedy.
- Ephraim Tellwright
Ephraim reacts to the suicide with cold pragmatism, noting suicide runs in Price's blood. He also makes cynical remarks about Mynors marrying Anna for her money.
- Agnes Tellwright
Agnes is curious about the suicide and later reunites with Anna, who feels guilty for leaving her alone.
- Titus Price
Titus Price is the central figure of the chapter, having hanged himself in the slip-house due to business troubles.
- Willie Price
Willie is mentioned as the one who discovered his father's body and bore himself splendidly during the crisis.
Key passages
“We drove him to it, father and I.”
Anna blames herself and her father for Titus Price's suicide.
This line captures Anna's guilt and her sense of shared responsibility.
“Suicide’s i’ that blood. Titus’s uncle ’Lijah tried to kill himself twice afore he died o’ gravel.”
Ephraim dismisses the tragedy as a family trait, showing his lack of empathy.
Ephraim's cold reaction highlights his harsh, pragmatic worldview.
“Dost think he isna’ marrying thee for thy brass?”
Ephraim accuses Mynors of marrying Anna for her money.
This reveals the theme of money corrupting relationships and Ephraim's cynical nature.