# V explained — Basil

> Chapter companion for Basil by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Basil reflects on his strained visit to his family home, where his father remains cold and distant due to his secret marriage. Clara, his sister, writes to him urging him to visit for his father's sake, fearing a serious estrangement. Basil reluctantly returns to the Hall for a week, feeling like a stranger in his own home. Upon returning to London, he finds Margaret pale and nervous, and Mr. Mannion's hand is deadly cold, with a change in his voice, suggesting something happened during his absence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrecy and Deception

Basil's internal conflict about revealing his secret marriage to his father and sister, and the strain of maintaining concealment.

### Family Duty and Estrangement

The growing distance between Basil and his father, and Clara's efforts to prevent a serious estrangement within the family.

## Character check-ins

### Basil

Struggles with the concealment of his marriage, feeling the weight of secrecy and the strain it places on his family relationships.

### Clara

Sends Basil a letter urging him to visit, expressing concern about their father's unease and the potential for a serious estrangement.

### Margaret Sherwin

Appears pale and nervous upon Basil's return from the country, attributing her condition to the wintry weather.

### Robert Mannion

Greets Basil with a deadly cold hand and a changed voice, claiming illness from hard work during Basil's absence.

### Mr. Sherwin

Laughs coarsely at Basil's difficulties about leaving his daughter for a week.

### Mrs. Sherwin

Earnestly recommends Basil not to be away longer than he proposed.

## Key lines

> Should I tell her all? Impulse answered, yes⁠—reflection, no.

Basil debated whether to confide in Clara, but his rational mind cautioned against it.

_Highlights Basil's internal struggle with secrecy._

> I felt heartily ashamed of my own weakness; but I yielded to it nevertheless.

Basil was embarrassed by his inability to leave Margaret, but he gave in to his fear.

_Shows Basil's obsession and dependence on Margaret._

> Home seemed home no longer, except in name.

The Hall no longer felt like home to Basil, only a place with that title.

_Reflects his alienation from his former life._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-ii-v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/basil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/basil_se/chapters