Doctor Thorne · Chapter
The Rivals explained
Frank Gresham and Mr.
What happens
Frank Gresham and Mr. Moffat both court Miss Dunstable for her fortune. Lady de Courcy advises Frank, but he is too playful. Mr. Moffat, despite his engagement to Augusta Gresham, calculates that winning the heiress is worth the risk. Miss Dunstable sees through their schemes and enjoys the comedy.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Marriage
Miss Dunstable and Mr. Moffat discuss how the aristocracy expects payment in marriage for admitting wealthy commoners into their circles.
Inheritance and Wealth
Miss Dunstable's two hundred thousand pounds makes her the target of both Frank and Mr. Moffat, who calculate the value of winning her.
Love vs. Duty
Mr. Moffat weighs his duty to Augusta Gresham against the allure of Miss Dunstable's fortune, choosing the latter.
Characters to notice
- Frank Gresham
Courts Miss Dunstable without serious intent, following his aunt's advice but unable to be serious.
- Miss Dunstable
The heiress who is courted by both Frank and Mr. Moffat; she sees through their flattery and enjoys the game.
- Lady Arabella de Courcy
Advises Frank on how to win Miss Dunstable, but grows displeased when she becomes the target of their jokes.
- Augusta Gresham
Frank's sister, engaged to Mr. Moffat, who is now considering abandoning her for Miss Dunstable's fortune.
- Mr. Moffat
A parliamentary candidate who, despite his engagement to Augusta, pursues Miss Dunstable for her wealth.
- The Honourable George de Courcy
Mentioned as having previously tried to court Miss Dunstable with flattery.
Key passages
“The way in which she, Miss Dunstable, and he, Mr. Moffat, would be required to pay would be by taking each of them some poor scion of the aristocracy in marriage; and thus expending their hard-earned wealth in procuring high-priced pleasures for some wellborn pauper.”
Miss Dunstable and Mr. Moffat would have to marry impoverished aristocrats, spending their money to buy the pleasure of a titled spouse.
Mr. Moffat's cynical view of marriage as a transaction between wealth and title.
“People, when they are in love with each other, or even when they pretend to be, do not generally show it by loud laughter.”
Genuine or pretended love is not usually expressed through boisterous laughter.
Narrator's observation on Frank's lack of romantic seriousness with Miss Dunstable.
“What will not a man encounter for the sake of two hundred thousand pounds?”
A man will risk almost anything to gain two hundred thousand pounds.
Mr. Moffat's rationalization for abandoning Augusta to pursue Miss Dunstable.