Charlotte Temple · Chapter
XXVI: What Might Be Expected explained
Montraville, increasingly enamored of Julia Franklin and convinced of Charlotte's infidelity, decides to marry Julia.
What happens
Montraville, increasingly enamored of Julia Franklin and convinced of Charlotte's infidelity, decides to marry Julia. He entrusts Belcour with money for Charlotte's support and a farewell letter urging her to return to virtue, but Belcour secretly intends to ruin Charlotte further. Montraville writes a remorseful letter to Charlotte, then marries Julia and departs for St. Eustatia.
Themes in this chapter
Seduction and Betrayal
Montraville's seduction of Charlotte is revisited with remorse, while Belcour's betrayal of his friend's trust deepens Charlotte's ruin.
Repentance and Forgiveness
Montraville expresses repentance for his role in Charlotte's fall, writing a letter that seeks to guide her back to virtue, though his own actions contradict his words.
Characters to notice
- Montraville
Wracked with guilt over seducing Charlotte, he marries Julia Franklin and writes a farewell letter to Charlotte, providing for her but vowing never to see her again.
- Julia Franklin
The amiable girl whom Montraville marries, unaware of his past with Charlotte.
- Belcour
Deceptively promises to deliver Montraville's letter and money to Charlotte, but secretly plots to ruin her and bring her under his power.
- Charlotte Temple
The injured and seduced girl to whom Montraville writes a remorseful farewell letter, though she remains unaware of his marriage and provision.
Key passages
“Though Charlotte, by her abandoned conduct, has thrown herself from my protection, I still hold myself bound to support her till relieved from her present condition, and also to provide for the child.”
Montraville feels obligated to support Charlotte and her child despite believing she has been unfaithful.
Montraville's conflicted sense of duty and guilt.
“Belcour promised to fulfil the request of his friend, though nothing was further from his intentions than the least design of delivering the letter, or making Charlotte acquainted with the provision Montraville had made for her.”
Belcour pretended to agree but planned to keep the letter and money from Charlotte.
Belcour's deceitful intentions to exploit Charlotte's vulnerability.
“How could he address the woman whom he had seduced, and whom, though he thought unworthy his tenderness, he was about to bid adieu forever?”
Montraville struggled to write to the woman he had wronged, even as he prepared to leave her forever.
Montraville's internal conflict and remorse.