When Greek Meets Greek, Then Comes the Tug of War explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Professional Dignity vs. Practicality

  Dr. Fillgrave's refusal of the fee to preserve his dignity, despite his desire for it, exemplifies the conflict between professional pride and practical gain.

• Social Class and Marriage

  Lady Scatcherd's awkwardness and the condescension she faces from Dr. Fillgrave underscore the class tensions between the nouveau riche and established professionals.

Characters to notice

• Dr. Fillgrave

  Summoned to Boxall Hill, he is offended when Sir Roger refuses to see him; he rejects a fee to preserve his dignity.

• Lady Scatcherd

  Anxious and flustered, she tries to appease Dr. Fillgrave with a five-pound note after her husband's refusal to see him.

• Sir Roger Scatcherd

  Recovered from his illness, he stubbornly refuses to see Dr. Fillgrave, insisting on his loyalty to Dr. Thorne.

• Dr. Thorne

  Appears unexpectedly at the end of the chapter, encountering Dr. Fillgrave in the hall.

• Winterbones

  Sir Roger's clerk, who locks the door on Lady Scatcherd's orders.

Key passages

• “Dr. Fillgrave dearly loved a five-pound fee. What physician is so unnatural as not to love it? He dearly loved a five-pound fee; but he loved his dignity better.”

  Dr. Fillgrave was very fond of a five-pound fee, as any doctor would be, but he valued his dignity even more.

  Highlights the internal conflict between financial gain and professional pride.

• “Put him under the pump, said the baronet; and he laughed his peculiar low guttural laugh, which told so plainly of the havoc which brandy had made in his throat.”

  Sir Roger joked that Dr. Fillgrave should be put under the pump, laughing in a way that revealed the damage alcohol had done to his voice.

  Illustrates Sir Roger's contempt for Dr. Fillgrave and his own physical decline due to drinking.