Howards End · Chapter
XLIII explained
In the aftermath of Leonard Bast's death, Margaret Schlegel reflects on the senseless chain of events and the loss of true selves amid societal conventions.
What happens
In the aftermath of Leonard Bast's death, Margaret Schlegel reflects on the senseless chain of events and the loss of true selves amid societal conventions. She tends to the garden, gathers flowers for Leonard's body, and faces questioning from officials. Helen, pregnant, is sent to the farm for peace before returning to Germany. Margaret decides to leave Henry, refusing to apologize for her earlier speech. Henry reveals that Charles may be charged with manslaughter, and after Charles is sentenced to three years' imprisonment, Henry's defenses crumble and he turns to Margaret, who takes him to Howards End to recover.
Themes in this chapter
Death, Mortality, and Legacy
Leonard's death prompts Margaret to contemplate the nature of life and death, the legacy of the unborn child, and the ultimate harmony toward which all things tend.
Connection vs. Isolation
Henry's refusal to connect on a clear issue leads to the breakdown of his marriage; Margaret chooses to leave him, yet later reconnects when Henry is broken.
Social Class and Inequality
The legal system's treatment of Leonard's death and Charles's imprisonment highlights class disparities; Margaret reflects on how 'Henry's kind' have filched the land.
Characters to notice
- Margaret Schlegel
Reflects on the chaos after Leonard's death, tends to the garden, decides to leave Henry, and ultimately takes him to Howards End after Charles's imprisonment.
- Helen Schlegel
Dumb with fright, trying to keep calm for her child's sake; sent to the farm to await the inquest before returning to Germany.
- Henry Wilcox
Broken after Charles's manslaughter charge and imprisonment; shambles to Margaret for support and is taken to Howards End.
- Charles Wilcox
Committed for trial and sentenced to three years' imprisonment for causing Leonard's death.
- Leonard Bast
Lies dead in the garden; his hands are folded on his breast and filled with flowers.
- Miss Avery
Calmly murmurs about Leonard's impending fatherhood, reminding Margaret that horror is not the end.
Key passages
“Out of the turmoil and horror that had begun with Aunt Juley’s illness and was not even to end with Leonard’s death, it seemed impossible to Margaret that healthy life should re-emerge.”
Margaret felt that after the chaos starting with Aunt Juley's illness and continuing through Leonard's death, normal life could never return.
Margaret's sense of despair and the unnatural sequence of events.
“She neither forgave him for his behaviour nor wished to forgive him. Her speech to him seemed perfect. She would not have altered a word.”
Margaret felt no regret for her confrontation with Henry; she believed her words were exactly right and refused to apologize.
Margaret's unrepentant stance after her speech to Henry.
“Then Henry’s fortress gave way. He could bear no one but his wife; he shambled up to Margaret afterwards and asked her to do what she could with him.”
After Charles's sentencing, Henry's emotional defenses collapsed and he turned only to Margaret for help.
Henry's vulnerability and reliance on Margaret after the trial.