# VI explained — Basil

> Chapter companion for Basil by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Ralph visits Basil and reports on his visit to the Sherwin household. He describes Mr. Sherwin's bluster and Mrs. Sherwin's illness, and his conversation with Clara, who is distraught over Basil's situation. Ralph offers to handle the negotiations with the Sherwins, proposing to buy their silence with money. Basil tells Ralph about his struggle with Mannion and his plan to offer his own small income to the Sherwins to protect his family, a plan Ralph rejects as foolish.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Duty and Estrangement

Basil's willingness to sacrifice his own income to shield his family from dishonour, even after being disowned, highlights his sense of duty and the painful estrangement from his father.

### Secrecy and Deception

The chapter revolves around the need to maintain secrecy about Basil's marriage and Margaret's betrayal, with Ralph proposing to 'buy' the Sherwins' silence to prevent exposure.

### Social Class and Pride

Ralph's dismissive references to the Sherwins as 'Mr. Shopkeeper' and 'Miss Shopkeeper' underscore the class prejudices at play and the perceived need to protect the family's social standing.

## Character check-ins

### Basil

Receives Ralph's report; is determined to sacrifice his own income to protect his family from disgrace.

### Ralph

Visits Basil with news from the Sherwin household; offers to negotiate with them and dismisses Basil's plan for self-sacrifice.

### Clara

Described by Ralph as being in a state of extreme distress over Basil's situation, having extracted a promise from Ralph to help.

### Mr. Sherwin

Reported by Ralph to have blustered and threatened, but is seen as a man who can be bought.

### Mrs. Sherwin

Reported by Ralph to be dying, though her husband insists she is only ill.

## Key lines

> We can buy Mr. Shopkeeper for anything we like⁠—for nothing at all, if we choose to be stingy.

We can easily bribe Mr. Sherwin to keep quiet, and it won't cost us much.

_Ralph's cynical assessment of Mr. Sherwin's character and the situation._

> I honour the independence of your principle, my dear fellow; but, while I am to the fore, I'll take good care that you don't ruin yourself gratuitously, for the sake of any principles whatever!

I respect your noble intentions, but I won't let you needlessly destroy your own future for the sake of your principles.

_Ralph's pragmatic rejection of Basil's plan to give up his inheritance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/basil_se/chapters/part-iii-vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/basil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/basil_se/chapters