# Third Act explained — Exiles

> Chapter companion for Exiles by James Joyce.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/exiles_se/chapters/third-act
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/exiles_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/exiles_se/chapters