# Showing What Happened in the Churchyard explained — Can You Forgive Her?

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

## What happens

John Grey asks Alice to walk with him on her last morning in Lucerne, intending to renew his engagement proposal. Despite her inner turmoil and guilt over her past behavior, Alice is ultimately compelled by Grey's forceful yet loving argument to accept his proposal, though she struggles with feelings of unworthiness and obstinacy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Central to the chapter as John Grey proposes marriage to Alice, emphasizing love, forgiveness, and the social expectation of matrimony.

### Self-Deception and Moral Growth

Alice grapples with guilt over her past actions and her self-perception as a 'jilt,' struggling to accept forgiveness and move forward.

### Duty vs. Desire

Alice's internal conflict between her desire to accept John Grey and her sense of duty to punish herself for past mistakes.

## Character check-ins

### Alice Vavasor

Struggles with guilt and self-reproach over her past engagement to George Vavasor; ultimately yields to John Grey's proposal in the churchyard cloisters.

### John Grey

Determined to win Alice back; argues his case with calm authority, demanding her hand if she loves him, and succeeds in overcoming her resistance.

### Lady Glencora Palliser

Urges Alice to accept John Grey, expressing frustration at Alice's obstinacy and predicting that refusal now would be final.

### Kate Vavasor

Mentioned in Alice's thoughts as having been with her during the previous year's visit to Lucerne, associated with George Vavasor.

## Key lines

> It is astonishing how strong a man may be to those around him—how impregnable may be his exterior, while within he feels himself to be as weak as water, and as unstable as chaff.

A man can appear completely strong and unshakeable to others, even when he feels deeply vulnerable and uncertain inside.

_Reflects John Grey's internal struggle despite his calm demeanor._

> If you love me, Alice, I tell you that you dare not refuse me. If you do so, you will fail hereafter to reconcile it to your conscience before God.

If you truly love me, you cannot refuse me; refusing would cause you lasting guilt before God.

_John Grey's forceful argument that leaves Alice no choice but to accept._

## Links

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