# My Last Home explained — Black Beauty

> Chapter companion for Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

## What happens

Black Beauty is taken on trial by three sisters, Miss Blomefield, Miss Ellen, and Miss Lavinia, after being recommended by Mr. Thoroughgood. Despite his blemished knees, Miss Ellen takes a liking to him. The groom, Joe Green, recognizes Beauty from his time at Birtwick Park and is overjoyed. Beauty is accepted into his new home, where he is treated kindly, and his story ends with him feeling safe and content.

## Themes in this chapter

### Kindness and Empathy

Joe Green's joyful recognition and promise of good treatment, along with the sisters' eventual acceptance, demonstrate the theme of kindness and empathy toward animals.

### The Importance of a Good Character

Mr. Thoroughgood's recommendation and the sisters' decision to keep Beauty despite his blemished knees emphasize that a horse's true worth lies in its character and behavior, not its appearance.

## Character check-ins

### Black Beauty

The narrator and protagonist, now in his final home, recognized by Joe Green and given a peaceful life.

### Joe Green

Now a grown man and groom, he recognizes Black Beauty by his markings and is overjoyed to be reunited with him.

### Miss Ellen

One of the three sisters who takes a liking to Black Beauty and decides to try him out.

### Miss Lavinia

The pale, nervous sister who is initially hesitant about riding behind a horse that has been down.

### Miss Blomefield

The stately sister who trusts Mr. Thoroughgood's recommendation and agrees to the trial.

## Key lines

> I wonder who the rascal was that broke your knees, my old Beauty! you must have been badly served out somewhere; well, well, it won’t be my fault if you haven’t good times of it now.

Joe Green wonders who caused Beauty's knee injury and vows to ensure Beauty's future is happy.

_Joe expresses sympathy for Beauty's past suffering and commits to providing a good life._

> My troubles are all over, and I am at home; and often before I am quite awake, I fancy I am still in the orchard at Birtwick, standing with my old friends under the apple trees.

Beauty's hardships have ended, and he feels at home, often dreaming of his happy days at Birtwick Park.

_Beauty reflects on his peaceful final home and nostalgic memories of his earlier life._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iv-xlix-my-last-home
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters