Miss Mole · Chapter
VI explained
Hannah Mole surveys the Beresford Road Congregational Chapel and the Corder house from her window, feeling a sense of foreboding.
What happens
Hannah Mole surveys the Beresford Road Congregational Chapel and the Corder house from her window, feeling a sense of foreboding. She explores the neighborhood, observes No. 16 with its parrot and friendly owner, and contrasts it with the more forbidding No. 14. In her final evening at Mrs. Gibson's, she boldly serves Mr. Blenkinsop his dinner, teasing him about her upcoming move to Mr. Corder's and hinting at the absurdity of his domestic situation.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Hannah contrasts the respectable facade of the Corder house (No. 14) with the more congenial atmosphere of No. 16, and the chapel's red roof hides a disappointing interior.
Power and Control in Domestic Life
Hannah challenges Mrs. Gibson's fearful deference to Mr. Blenkinsop by taking control of the dinner tray and speaking bluntly to him.
Loneliness and the Search for Connection
Hannah's solitary reconnaissance of the neighborhood and her immediate rapport with the parrot's owner at No. 16 highlight her longing for companionship.
Characters to notice
- Miss Hannah Mole
Observes the chapel and Corder house with growing unease; explores Beresford Road; confronts Mr. Blenkinsop with audacity on her last evening at Mrs. Gibson's.
- Mr. Blenkinsop
Seen at No. 16 with a parrot; later encountered in his sitting room absorbed in chess; dismissive of Hannah's teasing but shows a flicker of interest in her news.
- Mrs. Gibson
Treats Mr. Blenkinsop with exaggerated care; intimidated by Hannah's boldness when Hannah insists on carrying his dinner tray.
- Robert Corder
Mentioned as the minister of Beresford Road Chapel; described as a vigorous, busy figure; Hannah is about to become his housekeeper.
- Lilla
Hannah awaits a letter from her; mentioned as a contact during Hannah's reconnaissance of the chapel.
- Mrs. Widdows
Recalled painfully by Hannah when she sees a canary in a cage at No. 16.
Key passages
“This, she said, addressing the ivy which grew round the porch, is enough to drive anybody to Rome, and I've a good mind to go there.”
Hannah mutters to the ivy that the locked chapel is so off-putting it might make anyone convert to Catholicism.
Shows Hannah's sardonic humor and her frustration with the chapel's inaccessibility.
“Fear, said Hannah, is one of the strongest human emotions.”
Hannah tells Mr. Blenkinsop that Mrs. Gibson's anxious care stems from her fear of losing him.
Highlights Hannah's insight into the power dynamics in the household.
“Moriturus te saluto! Tomorrow, you'll be glad to know, I'm moving on.”
Hannah announces her departure with a dramatic Latin farewell, saying she is off to live with Mr. Corder.
Demonstrates Hannah's theatricality and her awareness of the absurdity of her situation.