# XXIX: We Go Forward Again explained — Charlotte Temple

> Chapter companion for Charlotte Temple by Susanna Haswell Rowson.

## What happens

Charlotte begins to recover physically but remains deeply depressed. She discovers she has only one guinea left and is in debt. Her hopes of hearing from her parents are dashed after four months without a reply. A farmer's wife arrives demanding rent, berates Charlotte as a harlot, and threatens to evict her that night.

## Themes in this chapter

### Consequences of Imprudence

Charlotte's financial ruin and eviction directly result from her imprudent elopement and trust in Montraville.

### Class and Money

The farmer's wife's demand for rent and her contempt for Charlotte highlight the harsh intersection of poverty and social judgment.

### Female Virtue and Fall

Charlotte is publicly shamed as a 'harlot' and 'bastard'-bearer, embodying the fall from virtue and its social consequences.

## Character check-ins

### Charlotte Temple

Recovering from illness but depressed; reduced to one guinea and in debt; evicted by the farmer's wife.

### Montraville

Mentioned as having abandoned Charlotte; the farmer's wife refers to him as 'Captain Montable' and says he is gone.

### Mrs. Temple

Charlotte's mother; Charlotte imagines her heart may be broken by her conduct.

### Mr. Temple

Charlotte's father; Charlotte fears his affection is alienated or his heart broken.

## Key lines

> The strength of Charlotte’s constitution combated against her disorder, and she began slowly to recover, though she still labored under a violent depression of spirits

Charlotte's physical health improved, but she remained severely depressed.

_Highlights her ongoing emotional suffering despite physical recovery._

> I have but to be patient a little longer, and nature, fatigued and fainting, will throw off this heavy load of mortality, and I shall be relieved from all my sufferings.

Charlotte wishes for death but will not take her own life, believing nature will soon end her misery.

_Reveals her despair and religious restraint against suicide._

> Charity, indeed: why, mistress, charity begins at home, and I have seven children at home, honest, lawful children, and it is my duty to keep them; and do you think I will give away my property to a nasty, impudent hussy, to maintain her and her bastard

The farmer's wife refuses to show charity, calling Charlotte a harlot and saying she must support her own legitimate children instead.

_Illustrates the social stigma and lack of compassion faced by fallen women._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxix-we-go-forward-again
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/charlotte_temple_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/charlotte_temple_se/chapters