Chapter 13 explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Parental Love and Sacrifice

  Joe's devotion to his father's business duties contrasts with his personal desires, showing the tension between filial duty and personal happiness.

• Social Injustice and Class

  Mrs. Varden's disdain for the Maypole and its patrons reflects class prejudices and the social divide between tradesmen and the gentry.

Characters to notice

• Joe Willet

  Visits the Varden household, hoping to see Dolly, but is disappointed when she is out. He presents flowers to Mrs. Varden, who dismisses them, and he leaves feeling dejected.

• Gabriel Varden

  Welcomes Joe warmly, advises him to give the flowers to Mrs. Varden instead of Dolly, and tries to keep the peace during tea.

• Mrs. Varden

  Receives Joe coldly, complains about the Maypole and old Mr. Willet, and dismisses the flowers Joe brought, causing him further disappointment.

• Dolly Varden

  Mentioned as being out at a dance, which is the cause of Joe's disappointment.

• Miss Miggs

  Present during the tea, she supports Mrs. Varden's complaints and adds her own commentary.

• John Willet

  Mentioned as the father of Joe, who sends him on the quarter-day journey and is the subject of Mrs. Varden's complaints.

Key passages

• “If Joseph Willet, the denounced and proscribed of ’prentices, had happened to be at home when his father’s courtly guest presented himself before the Maypole door—that is, if it had not perversely chanced to be one of the half-dozen days in the whole year on which he was at liberty to absent himself for as many hours without question or reproach—he would have contrived, by hook or crook, to dive to the very bottom of Mr. Chester’s mystery, and to come at his purpose with as much certainty as though he had been his confidential adviser.”

  If Joe had been at the Maypole when Mr. Chester visited, he would have uncovered his secret plans, but he was away on his annual errand.

  Highlights Joe's absence and his potential to thwart Chester's schemes.

• “It was, in fact, the twenty-fifth of March, which, as most people know to their cost, is, and has been time out of mind, one of those unpleasant epochs termed quarter-days.”

  The date was March 25th, a quarter-day when debts are settled, which was an inconvenient time for Joe.

  Sets the time and explains Joe's absence.

• “And it was for this Joe had looked forward to the twenty-fifth of March for weeks and weeks, and had gathered the flowers with so much care, and had cocked his hat, and made himself so smart! This was the end of all his bold determination, resolved upon for the hundredth time, to speak out to Dolly and tell her how he loved her!”

  Joe had eagerly anticipated this day to confess his love to Dolly, but his hopes were dashed when she was not there.

  Reveals Joe's romantic intentions and his disappointment.