Daniel Deronda · Chapter
LXIV explained
Gwendolen, now a widow, travels back to England with Sir Hugo, her mother, and her uncle.
What happens
Gwendolen, now a widow, travels back to England with Sir Hugo, her mother, and her uncle. She learns of Grandcourt's will, which leaves most of his wealth to his illegitimate children with Mrs. Glasher, and resolves to seek Deronda's advice on whether to accept any of the money. She shows a new tenderness toward her mother and a determination to be good, while struggling with guilt and the memory of her marriage.
Themes in this chapter
Sympathy and Moral Growth
Gwendolen's resolve to be good and her new tenderness toward her mother mark a significant moral transformation, as she grapples with guilt and seeks to act rightly.
Marriage and Gender Roles
The chapter explores the consequences of Grandcourt's secret marriage and illegitimate children, highlighting the power dynamics and legal disadvantages faced by women in marriage.
Social Class and Privilege
The discussion of Gadsmere, Offendene, and the inheritance reveals the importance of property and social standing, as well as the precariousness of Gwendolen's financial future.
Characters to notice
- Gwendolen Harleth
Widowed and guilt-ridden, Gwendolen resolves to be good and to seek Deronda's counsel about accepting her husband's money. She shows new tenderness toward her mother but remains irritable and haunted by her past.
- Mrs. Davilow
Gwendolen's mother, who is relieved to have her daughter back but struggles to understand her enigmatic distress. She learns of Grandcourt's will and tries to comfort Gwendolen.
- Sir Hugo Mallinger
Kindly and fatherly toward Gwendolen, Sir Hugo discusses her future arrangements and reveals the details of Grandcourt's will to Mr. Gascoigne, showing concern for her welfare.
- Mr. Gascoigne
Gwendolen's uncle, who is informed by Sir Hugo about Grandcourt's will and the existence of Mrs. Glasher's children. He is hurt by the revelation and concerned for his niece.
- Henleigh Grandcourt
Deceased; his will leaves most of his wealth to his illegitimate children, causing Gwendolen's financial uncertainty and moral crisis.
Key passages
“All that brief experience of a quiet home which had once seemed a dullness to be fled from, now came back to her as a restful escape, a station where she found the breath of morning and the unreproaching voice of birds after following a lure through a long Satanic masquerade, which she had entered on with an intoxicated belief in its disguises, and had seen the end of in shrieking fear lest she herself had become one of the evil spirits who were dropping their human mummery and hissing around her with serpent tongues.”
Gwendolen now sees her former home, Offendene, as a peaceful refuge, contrasting it with the terrifying and deceitful path of her marriage, which she entered naively and ended in horror.
This passage reflects Gwendolen's moral awakening and her regret over her past choices, emphasizing the theme of sympathy and moral growth.
“The resolve that Gwendolen had in her mind was that she would ask Deronda whether she ought to accept any of her husband's money—whether she might accept what would enable her to provide for her mother.”
Gwendolen decides to seek Deronda's advice on whether it is morally right to accept any inheritance from Grandcourt, especially to support her mother.
This shows Gwendolen's reliance on Deronda as a moral guide and her desire to act virtuously.