Doctor Thorne · Chapter
The Election explained
The Barchester election reaches its climax with a close contest between Sir Roger Scatcherd and Mr.
What happens
The Barchester election reaches its climax with a close contest between Sir Roger Scatcherd and Mr. Moffat. The outcome hinges on the votes of publican Reddypalm and his son, who are persuaded to support Scatcherd after their previous election bill is settled. Scatcherd wins by two votes, but a petition is planned. The chapter also features Scatcherd's rough campaign eloquence and the personal attacks on both candidates through caricatures.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Marriage
The election highlights class tensions between the landed aristocracy (de Courcy), the nouveau riche (Scatcherd), and the commercial class (Moffat), with caricatures mocking Scatcherd's humble origins and Moffat's trade.
Addiction and Moral Decline
Sir Roger Scatcherd's alcoholism is central; he consumes brandy to sustain his campaign efforts, and his caricature emphasizes his drinking, reflecting his moral and physical decline.
Professional Dignity vs. Practicality
Reddypalm's decision to vote is driven by practical financial concerns (settling his bill) rather than political principle, illustrating the tension between professional integrity and material gain.
Characters to notice
- Sir Roger Scatcherd
Campaigns vigorously despite his drinking, wins the election by two votes, and delivers a rough but effective speech addressing his caricature.
- Mr. Reddypalm
A publican whose vote and his son's vote decide the election; he is swayed by having his previous election bill settled.
- Mr. Nearthewinde
A political agent for Mr. Moffat who works to secure votes and later plans a petition after the loss.
- Mr. Closerstil
A political agent involved in trying to secure Reddypalm's vote, sending beer and brandy to influence him.
- Mr. Romer
A barrister accompanying Closerstil who helps persuade Reddypalm by promising to settle his bill.
- Mr. Moffat
The opposing candidate in the election, depicted in caricatures as a tailor; loses by two votes.
Key passages
“It became notified to Reddypalm with sufficient clearness that his bill for the past election should be paid without further question; and, therefore, at five o'clock the Mayor of Barchester proclaimed the results of the contest in the following figures:— Scatcherd 378 Moffat 376”
Reddypalm understood that his old election bill would be settled, so he voted for Scatcherd, giving him a two-vote victory.
Shows how financial inducement decided the election.
“There was, consequently, a great daub painted up on sundry walls, on which a navvy, with a pimply, bloated face, was to be seen standing on a railway bank, leaning on a spade holding a bottle in one hand, while he invited a comrade to drink. 'Come, Jack, shall us have a drop of some'at short?' were the words coming out of the navvy's mouth; and under this was painted in huge letters, The Last New Baronet”
Caricatures of Scatcherd showed him as a drunken railway worker, mocking his rise to a baronetcy.
Illustrates the personal attacks in election propaganda.
“He was drawn with his goose, with his scissors, with his needle, with his tapes; he might be seen measuring, cutting, stitching, pressing, carrying home his bundle, and presenting his little bill; and under each of these representations was repeated his own motto: 'England's honour.'”
Moffat was depicted as a tailor in various poses, with his motto 'England's honour' used ironically.
Highlights the class-based mockery of Moffat's trade.
