# XXXVIII explained — Miss Marjoribanks

> Chapter companion for Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant.

## What happens

Aunt Jemima arrives in Grange Lane, and Lucilla navigates her aunt's delicate health and pointed remarks about her unmarried state and suitability as a wife. Meanwhile, Lucilla is deeply engaged in electioneering for a new member to replace old Mr. Chiltern, and is torn between her public commitment to Mr. Ashburton and her private feelings about the returning Mr. Cavendish.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Ambition and Control

Lucilla's electioneering and her desire to manage both the political outcome and her personal relationships reflect her ambition to control her social sphere.

### Marriage as a Social Institution

Aunt Jemima's comments about Lucilla not being suited to be a poor man's wife highlight marriage as a practical, economic arrangement rather than a romantic one.

### Self-Perception and Ego

Lucilla's wounded pride at being deemed unsuitable for a poor man's wife, and her internal conflict between public loyalty and private feeling, reveal her strong sense of self.

## Character check-ins

### Lucilla Marjoribanks

Busy electioneering and managing Aunt Jemima's visit; conflicted about Mr. Cavendish's return while committed to Mr. Ashburton.

### Aunt Jemima

Recently arrived widow, mother of Tom, delicate health, critical of Lucilla's unmarried state and suitability as a poor man's wife.

### Dr. Marjoribanks

Lucilla's father, robust and unsympathetic to Mrs. John's complaints; his political sympathies align with Mr. Cavendish.

### Tom Marjoribanks

Aunt Jemima's son, in India; his mother suspects he was once fond of Lucilla.

### Mr. Cavendish

Returning to Carlingford, his political address aligns with Dr. Marjoribanks's sentiments; Lucilla is conflicted about his reappearance.

### Mr. Ashburton

The predestined member for Carlingford according to Lucilla; she has pledged herself to his cause.

## Key lines

> I don't mean to be any man's wife just now... I am too busy electioneering; we are going to have a new member in dear old Mr. Chiltern's place.

Lucilla deflects Aunt Jemima's marriage talk by declaring she is too occupied with the upcoming election to replace Mr. Chiltern.

_Lucilla uses politics to avoid personal discussion and assert her independence._

> Life with most people is little more than a succession of high and low tides... Miss Marjoribanks had been subject to the eaux mortes for a long time: but now the spring-tides had rushed back.

The narrator compares life to tidal cycles, noting that after a long period of stagnation, Lucilla's life is now full of activity and excitement.

_Metaphor for the return of social and emotional energy in Lucilla's world._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters/xxxviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/miss_marjoribanks_se/chapters