Lorna Doone · Chapter
Lorna Knows Her Nurse explained
John Ridd travels to Watchett to find Benita Odam, Lorna's old nurse, and brings her back to Plover's Barrows.
What happens
John Ridd travels to Watchett to find Benita Odam, Lorna's old nurse, and brings her back to Plover's Barrows. Benita's arrival confirms Lorna's noble lineage and rights, as she recognizes Lorna and provides evidence of her birth. Meanwhile, the family prepares for Annie's marriage to Tom Faggus, though John and his mother have misgivings about Tom's steadiness. Lorna asks John for money to buy a wedding gift for Annie, and John agrees to help.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
The chapter explores Lorna's noble birth and the Doones' attempt to use her for inheritance, contrasting with the Ridds' humble status and the community's gifts for Annie's wedding.
Love and Sacrifice
Lorna's desire to give Annie a wedding gift, despite her own uncertain wealth, and John's willingness to help her, demonstrate selfless love and generosity.
Family and Loyalty
The Ridd family's concerns for Annie's future and the reunion of Lorna with her nurse Benita underscore familial bonds and loyalty.
Characters to notice
- John Ridd
Travels to Watchett to find Benita Odam and brings her back to Plover's Barrows; helps Lorna with her plan to give Annie a wedding gift.
- Lorna Doone
Recognizes Benita Odam as her old nurse; her noble birth and rights are confirmed; asks John for money to buy a wedding present for Annie.
- Annie Ridd
Is preparing to marry Tom Faggus; receives wedding gifts from the community; Lorna plans to give her a present.
- Tom Faggus
Is to marry Annie; John and his mother have concerns about his steadiness and drinking.
- Benita
Lorna's old nurse; provides evidence of Lorna's lineage and is brought to Plover's Barrows by John.
- Mistress Ridd
Shares concerns with John about Tom Faggus's steadiness; wants Uncle Reuben's presence at the wedding.
Key passages
“The motives of mankind are plainer than the motions they produce.”
People's intentions are easier to understand than the complicated actions that result from them.
John reflects on the difficulty of understanding the legal and familial conflicts surrounding Lorna's inheritance.
“If any poor man steals a sheep, having ten children starving, and regarding it as mountain game (as a rich man does a hare), to the gallows with him. If a man of rank beats down a door, smites the owner upon the head, and honours the wife with attention, it is a thing to be grateful for, and to slouch smitten head the lower.”
A poor man who steals to feed his starving family is hanged, while a nobleman who commits violence is treated with deference.
John criticizes the double standards of justice based on social class.