Exiles · Chapter
Third Act explained
Bertha and Beatrice confront each other about their relationships with Richard, leading to a tense but ultimately reconciliatory moment.
What happens
Bertha and Beatrice confront each other about their relationships with Richard, leading to a tense but ultimately reconciliatory moment. Richard reads a newspaper article written by Robert that praises him as a returning Irish exile, but he reacts bitterly. Bertha and Richard argue about love, freedom, and betrayal, culminating in Bertha declaring Richard a stranger to her. Robert arrives after being summoned.
Themes in this chapter
Exile and Belonging
Richard's return from exile is framed in Robert's article as a national issue, while Bertha feels alienated from Richard's intellectual world.
Love, Possession, and Freedom
Bertha and Richard argue about love, possession, and freedom, with Richard claiming he will never know the truth and Bertha asserting her desire for a lover.
Betrayal and Trust
Bertha accuses Richard of betraying her by urging her to meet Robert, while Richard feels betrayed by Bertha's potential infidelity.
Characters to notice
- Bertha Rowan
Confronts Beatrice about her intimacy with Richard, expresses feelings of inadequacy and suffering, argues with Richard about love and freedom, and declares him a stranger.
- Beatrice Justice
Confronted by Bertha, admits to past love for Robert but denies current feelings, shows concern for Richard's state of mind, and reconciles with Bertha.
- Richard Rowan
Returns from the garden, reads Robert's article with bitterness, argues with Bertha about love and betrayal, and retreats to his study.
- Robert Hand
Writes a newspaper article about Richard as a returning exile, arrives at the house after being summoned by Bertha.
- Brigid
Delivers Bertha's message to Robert and reports that he will come shortly.
Key passages
“You hate me. You think I am happy. If you only knew how wrong you are!”
Bertha tells Beatrice that she is mistaken in thinking Bertha is happy, revealing her own suffering.
Bertha expresses her unhappiness and misunderstanding by others.
“I gave up everything for him, religion, family, my own peace.”
Bertha reflects on the sacrifices she made for Richard.
Bertha feels her sacrifices are unappreciated.
“I am only a thing he got entangled with and my son is—the nice name they give those children.”
Bertha feels devalued as just an entanglement and alludes to her son being illegitimate.
Bertha's sense of social humiliation.
“You are a stranger to me. You do not understand anything in me—not one thing in my heart or soul. A stranger! I am living with a stranger!”
Bertha tells Richard he is a stranger who does not understand her.
Bertha's final accusation of emotional estrangement from Richard.