Sir Marmaduke at His Club explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Social Reputation and Gossip

  Sir Marmaduke is deeply concerned about the damage to Emily's reputation due to Colonel Osborne's visit and letters, and the gossip that ensues.

• Marital Jealousy and Possessiveness

  Trevelyan's jealousy is central to the conflict, with Colonel Osborne arguing that the jealousy is irrational and the root of all trouble.

• Pride and Stubbornness

  Both Sir Marmaduke and Mr. Outhouse display stubbornness in their quarrel, and Colonel Osborne's pride leads him to defend his actions vehemently.

Characters to notice

• Sir Marmaduke Rowley

  Angry and disillusioned after his visit to Mr. Outhouse, he confronts Colonel Osborne at the club but is persuaded by Osborne's defense, leaving him more miserable.

• Colonel Osborne

  Meets Sir Marmaduke at the club and defends his actions regarding Emily, blaming Trevelyan's madness and asserting his own innocence.

• Emily Trevelyan

  Discussed as the victim of her husband's jealousy and Colonel Osborne's indiscretion; her child has been taken away, causing her great distress.

• Louis Trevelyan

  Referenced as the jealous husband who has taken Emily's child and is considered mad by Colonel Osborne.

• Mr. Outhouse

  Quarreled with Sir Marmaduke, accusing Colonel Osborne of injuring Emily and advising severe measures; dismissed by Osborne as an 'ass'.

Key passages

• “Sir Marmaduke had come away from his brother-in-law the parson in much anger, for Mr. Outhouse, with that mixture of obstinacy and honesty which formed his character, had spoken hard words of Colonel Osborne, and words which by implication had been hard also against Emily Trevelyan.”

  Sir Marmaduke left the parsonage furious because Mr. Outhouse, stubbornly honest, harshly criticized Colonel Osborne and indirectly blamed Emily Trevelyan.

  Establishes the conflict between Sir Marmaduke and Mr. Outhouse over Emily's reputation.

• “He pointed out to the unhappy father that Colonel Osborne had behaved with great cruelty in going to Devonshire, that the Stanburys had been untrue to their trust in allowing him to enter the house, and that Emily had been 'indiscreet' in receiving him.”

  Mr. Outhouse told Sir Marmaduke that Colonel Osborne was cruel to visit Devonshire, the Stanburys failed in their duty by letting him in, and Emily was indiscreet to see him.

  Highlights the accusations against Emily and the Stanburys.

• “Could it really be possible that his old friend Fred Osborne, who seven or eight-and-twenty years ago had been potent among young ladies, had really been making love to his old friend's married daughter?”

  Sir Marmaduke wondered if his old friend Fred Osborne, once a ladies' man, was actually romancing his married daughter.

  Reveals Sir Marmaduke's doubt and the central suspicion.

• “Sir Marmaduke tried to remember whether the Colonel was in fact the godfather of his eldest daughter, but he found that his mind was quite a blank about his children's godfathers and godmothers.”

  Sir Marmaduke couldn't recall if Colonel Osborne was his eldest daughter's godfather, showing his confusion.

  Illustrates Sir Marmaduke's uncertainty and the Colonel's manipulation.

• “I will acknowledge that those letters—there may have been one or two—were the beginning of the trouble. It was these that made this man show himself to be a lunatic.”

  Colonel Osborne admitted that his letters to Emily sparked the trouble, causing Trevelyan to act like a madman.

  Colonel Osborne partially concedes his role while blaming Trevelyan's insanity.

• “There was so much that seemed to be sensible in this, and it was spoken with so well assumed a tone of injured innocence, that Sir Marmaduke felt that he had nothing more to say.”

  Sir Marmaduke found Colonel Osborne's arguments reasonable and his tone convincingly innocent, leaving him speechless.

  Shows how Osborne's persuasion silences Sir Marmaduke.