# Alice Is Taught to Grow Upwards, Towards the Light explained — Can You Forgive Her? > Chapter companion for Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Alice Vavasor prepares to visit Matching Priory, feeling conflicted about her promise to Lady Glencora. She fears the closer connection with her wealthy relations and worries about being out of her element. Her aunt Lady Macleod encourages the visit, believing it may reconcile Alice with John Grey. In London, Alice meets her father, who advises her to 'grow upwards, towards the light' by associating with the nobility. Later, her cousin George Vavasor visits, having learned of her trip from Burgo Fitzgerald. He confronts Alice about being kept in the dark and demands an explanation. Alice admits she asked Kate to be silent about her movements to avoid encouraging talk of a marriage between them. George accepts her honesty and they reconcile as friends. ## Themes in this chapter ### Social Class and Ambition Mr. Vavasor advises Alice to associate with the nobility to 'grow upwards, towards the light,' reflecting the Victorian emphasis on social climbing and the advantages of rank and wealth. ### Duty vs. Desire Alice feels torn between her duty to visit her wealthy relations and her desire to maintain her independence and distance from them. She also struggles with her promise to Lady Glencora versus her own reluctance. ### Female Autonomy and Identity Alice resists the meddling of Lady Midlothian and her aunt, asserting her right to make her own decisions about her social connections and her future. ## Character check-ins ### Alice Vavasor Alice is preparing to visit Matching Priory, feeling conflicted and anxious about the visit. She resists her aunt's and Lady Midlothian's meddling, but ultimately agrees to go. She meets with George Vavasor and explains why she asked Kate to be silent about her movements. ### Lady Macleod Alice's aunt encourages the visit to Matching Priory, believing it may reconcile Alice with Mr. Grey and is a step in the right direction socially. She is saddened by Alice's refusal to answer Lady Midlothian's letter. ### Mr. John Vavasor Alice's father meets her in London and advises her to 'grow upwards, towards the light' by associating with the nobility. He approves of her visit to Matching Priory. ### George Vavasor George visits Alice in London, having learned of her trip to Matching Priory from Burgo Fitzgerald. He confronts her about being kept in the dark and demands an explanation. After Alice explains, they reconcile as friends. ### Kate Vavasor Kate is mentioned as having been cautioned by Alice not to speak of her movements, but she inadvertently revealed the information to George after he already knew. ### Lady Glencora Palliser Lady Glencora is the hostess of Matching Priory, and Alice feels a mix of affection and apprehension about visiting her in her grand setting. ### Burgo Fitzgerald Burgo Fitzgerald is mentioned as the source from whom George learned of Alice's visit to Matching Priory. ## Key lines > Men and women ought to grow, like plants, upwards. Everybody should endeavour to stand as well as he can in the world, and if I had a choice of acquaintance between a sugar-baker and a peer, I should prefer the peer—unless, indeed, the sugar-baker had something very strong on his side to offer. I don't call that tuft-hunting, and it does not necessitate toadying. It's simply growing up, towards the light, as the trees do. People should strive to improve their social standing, just as plants grow toward the sun. Given a choice, it's better to associate with a nobleman than a tradesman, unless the tradesman offers exceptional advantages. This isn't sycophancy; it's natural self-improvement. _Mr. Vavasor's advice to Alice encapsulates the chapter's theme of social ambition and the Victorian belief in the benefits of associating with the upper classes._ > I think you owe it as a duty to your family to go. You have a family obligation to accept the invitation. _Lady Macleod urges Alice to visit Matching Priory, framing it as a duty to her family rather than a personal choice._ > I own I do not understand why it should be necessary to keep me so much in the dark. I don't see why I should be kept ignorant of your plans. _George Vavasor expresses his frustration at being excluded from knowledge of Alice's movements, leading to their confrontation._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters/xxi-alice-is-taught-to-grow-upwards-towards-the-light - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_you_forgive_her_se/chapters