Aurora Floyd · Chapter
After the Ball explained
Two days after Aurora's birthday ball, Talbot Bulstrode visits Felden Woods with Francis Maldon.
What happens
Two days after Aurora's birthday ball, Talbot Bulstrode visits Felden Woods with Francis Maldon. He observes the tense, watchful relationship between Aurora and her father, contrasts her bold beauty with Lucy's gentle purity, and reflects on his own inability to inspire love despite his respectability.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Marriage
Talbot views Lucy as the ideal wife due to her pure upbringing, while Aurora's mysterious background and boldness unsettle his class expectations.
Secrecy and Scandal
The watchful, anxious relationship between Aurora and her father hints at a hidden secret, which Talbot senses and tries to decipher.
Love vs. Duty
Talbot struggles between his attraction to Aurora and his rational ideal of a dutiful, gentle wife like Lucy.
Characters to notice
- Talbot Bulstrode
Visits Felden Woods two days after the ball; observes Aurora and her father with suspicion; reflects on his own coldness and inability to be loved.
- Aurora Floyd
Walks in the gardens with her father and Mr. Maldon; her beauty and manner captivate Talbot; she shows a watchful, anxious affection toward her father.
- Archibald Floyd
Watchful and anxious over Aurora; his manner reveals a tender, sorrowful concern that Talbot finds abnormal.
- Lucy Floyd
Plays Beethoven at the piano; Talbot considers her the ideal of a good wife; she defends Aurora's character to Talbot.
- Francis Maldon
Accompanies Talbot to Felden Woods; invited to luncheon and walks in the gardens.
- Alexander Floyd
Mrs. Alexander Floyd sits at the bottom of the table during luncheon; walks with Talbot and Lucy in the gardens.
Key passages
““I could almost fall in love with my fair-haired ideal,” he thought, “but I cannot help admiring this extraordinary girl.””
Talbot admits he could love his perfect blonde ideal, but he is irresistibly drawn to Aurora's extraordinary beauty.
Talbot's internal conflict between his ideal wife and his attraction to Aurora.
““What does it mean?” he thought; “has she fallen in love with some man whom her father has forbidden her to marry, and is the old man trying to atone for his severity?””
Talbot wonders if Aurora is in love with a man her father disapproves of, and if the father is trying to make up for his harshness.
Talbot's suspicion about the secret between Aurora and her father.
““Aurora takes after her mother,” said Mrs. Alexander; “she is the living image of poor Eliza Floyd.””
Mrs. Alexander says Aurora resembles her late mother, Eliza Floyd, in appearance.
A clue to Aurora's heritage and the mystery surrounding her mother.