Barchester Towers · Chapter
Mrs. Bold at Home explained
After returning from Miss Thorne's party, Eleanor Bold is deeply distressed and confides in Mary Bold about Mr.
What happens
After returning from Miss Thorne's party, Eleanor Bold is deeply distressed and confides in Mary Bold about Mr. Slope's unwanted advances and the Stanhopes' scheme to secure her fortune for Bertie. She finds solace only in her baby, Johnny, and later discusses the dean's death and Mr. Quiverful's appointment to the hospital with her father, Mr. Harding.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Moral Ambiguity
Eleanor's distress over Mr. Slope's advances and the Stanhopes' scheming highlights the moral duplicity of those who pretend friendship for personal gain.
Marriage and Courtship
The chapter explores the pressures on a young widow to remarry, as seen in the Stanhopes' plot and Mr. Slope's unwanted courtship.
Clerical Corruption and Patronage
The appointment of Mr. Quiverful to the hospital over Mr. Harding's expectations underscores the influence of patronage and the bishop's power.
Characters to notice
- Eleanor Bold
Returns home from Ullathorne deeply unhappy and tired, confides in Mary about Mr. Slope's advances and the Stanhopes' scheme, finds comfort in her baby, and later discusses the dean's death and hospital appointment with her father.
- Mary Bold
Comforts Eleanor at home, listens to her story without reproach, and provides gentle support.
- Johnny Bold
Eleanor's baby, who provides her with consolation and comfort during her distress.
- Mr. Harding
Visits Eleanor in the evening; learns of Mr. Slope's effrontery and discusses the dean's death and Mr. Quiverful's appointment to the hospital.
- Mr. Slope
Subject of Eleanor's anger and disgust for his unwanted advances; she struck him in self-defense.
- Charlotte Stanhope
Mentioned as a base, designing woman for her role in the scheme to secure Eleanor's fortune for Bertie.
Key passages
“Poor Mrs. Bold, when she got home from Ullathorne on the evening of Miss Thorne’s party, was very unhappy and, moreover, very tired.”
Eleanor returned home from the party feeling miserable and exhausted.
Opening line establishing Eleanor's emotional and physical state.
“Nothing fatigues the body so much as weariness of spirit, and Eleanor’s spirit was indeed weary.”
Mental exhaustion is more draining than physical tiredness, and Eleanor was deeply weary in spirit.
Narrator's observation on the connection between emotional and physical fatigue.
“Had I stabbed him with a dagger, he would have deserved it.”
Eleanor felt that even killing Mr. Slope would have been justified.
Hyperbolic expression of Eleanor's anger toward Mr. Slope.