# VII explained — Cakes and Ale

> Chapter companion for Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on his summer with the Driffields, their unconventional past, and the social discomfort their frankness causes him. He learns more about Rosie's history as a barmaid and her casual friendship with Mary-Ann, which challenges his notions of propriety.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Snobbery

The narrator's discomfort with the Driffields' openness about their working-class past highlights the rigid class distinctions of the time.

### Hypocrisy and Reputation

The narrator observes the community's pretense and the Driffields' refusal to hide their history, contrasting with the prevailing hypocrisy.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Reflects on his summer with the Driffields, feeling both superior and embarrassed by their frankness about their past.

### Edward Driffield

Shares his enthusiasm for brass rubbing and speaks openly about his past jobs, shocking the narrator.

### Rosie Driffield

Reveals her history as a barmaid and casually befriends Mary-Ann, showing her lack of concern for social conventions.

### Mary-Ann

The vicarage cook, who is visited by Rosie Driffield for tea and a chat about old times.

## Key lines

> I was under the impression that it was condescension on my part to consort with the son of Miss Wolfe’s bailiff, and he what my uncle called a penny-a-liner.

I felt I was doing the Driffields a favor by spending time with them, given their lower social standing.

_The narrator's initial sense of superiority._

> I could not get over what Mary-Ann had told me about Mrs. Driffield.

I was still shocked by the gossip Mary-Ann had shared about Rosie's past.

_The narrator's lingering disbelief about Rosie's history._

> It never ceased to embarrass me, the way in which they talked of incidents in their past that I should have thought they would not dream of mentioning.

I was always embarrassed by how openly they discussed their past, which I thought should be kept secret.

_The narrator's discomfort with the Driffields' frankness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cakes_and_ale_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cakes_and_ale_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/cakes_and_ale_se/chapters