# Alice Vavasor's Name Gets Into the Money Market explained — Can You Forgive Her?

> Chapter companion for Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

George Vavasor, desperate for funds after being disinherited, pressures Alice to honor her pledge by signing four bills of £500 each. He sends his clerk, Mr. Levy, to obtain her signature. Alice hesitates but ultimately signs the bills, hoping to avoid her father's interference. George then presents the bills to Mr. Scruby, who refuses to discount them directly, citing the risk of ladies' names on business paper, and advises George to collect through his own banker.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Financial Dependence

Alice's financial independence is exploited by George, who pressures her to sign bills, highlighting her vulnerability despite her fortune.

### Betrayal and Forgiveness

George's manipulative use of Alice's promise and her trust, sending a clerk to secure her signature, borders on betrayal of their familial bond.

### Self-Deception and Moral Growth

Alice deceives herself into believing she must honor her pledge to George, ignoring the imprudence of signing bills without proper counsel.

## Character check-ins

### Alice Vavasor

Alice signs four bills of £500 each at George's request, despite her misgivings, to fulfill her promise and avoid consulting her father.

### George Vavasor

George sends Mr. Levy to Alice with the bills, then presents them to Mr. Scruby, hoping to convert them into ready money for his election expenses.

### Mr. John Vavasor

Alice's father is in the house during Mr. Levy's visit, but Alice avoids consulting him to prevent interference with her gift to George.

### Mr. Scruby

George's lawyer, who refuses to discount the bills signed by a lady and advises George to collect through his own banker.

### Mr. Levy

George's clerk, who visits Alice to obtain her signature on the four bills, pressing her to sign quickly.

## Key lines

> The unparalleled impudence of this letter had the effect which the writer had intended. It made Alice think immediately of her own remissness—if she had been remiss—rather than of the enormity of his claim upon her.

The letter's audacity worked as George planned: Alice focused on her own possible failure to act, not on how outrageous his demand was.

_Highlights George's manipulative skill and Alice's tendency to self-blame._

> “The truth is, Mr. Vavasor, that bills with ladies’ names on them—ladies who are no way connected with business—ain’t just the paper that people like.”

Mr. Scruby explains that bills endorsed by women unaccustomed to business are not considered reliable in financial circles.

_Reflects Victorian gender norms regarding finance and credit._

## Links

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