# Rejection explained — New Grub Street

> Chapter companion for New Grub Street by George Gissing.

## What happens

Reardon struggles with the fear of reading reviews of his novel 'Margaret Home', feeling that his poverty and illness have forced him to produce inferior work. He visits Harold Biffen, and they go together to see Whelpdale, who announces his engagement to a young woman he met through his literary business. Whelpdale receives a letter from her that brings bad news. Biffen mentions seeing Amy Reardon with Jasper Milvain, which disturbs Reardon.

## Themes in this chapter

### Poverty and Class

Reardon's fear of reviews is rooted in his poverty, which forced him to publish an inferior novel. Biffen's meager meal and Whelpdale's schemes to earn money further illustrate the financial struggles of the literary class.

### Artistic Integrity vs. Commercialism

Reardon feels that his poverty has compromised his artistic standards, and he dreads criticism of a book he knows is flawed. Whelpdale's plan to teach novel-writing in ten lessons satirizes the commercialization of literature.

### Marriage and Money

Whelpdale's engagement is intertwined with financial concerns, as he hopes for a wedding present from his fiancée's father and plans to support them through his literary schemes.

## Character check-ins

### Edwin Reardon

Dreads reading reviews of his novel 'Margaret Home', feels victimized by poverty, and plans a retreat to recover his writing powers.

### Harold Biffen

Visits Reardon, shares his meager meal of bread and dripping, and accompanies him to see Whelpdale.

### Whelpdale

Announces his engagement to a young woman he met through his literary business, but receives a troubling letter from her.

### Amy Reardon

Mentioned by Biffen as having been seen walking with Jasper Milvain in Tottenham Court Road.

### Jasper Milvain

Seen by Biffen walking with Amy Reardon in Tottenham Court Road.

## Key lines

> No man or woman could tell him anything in the way of praise or blame which he did not already know quite well; commendation was pleasant, but it so often aimed amiss, and censure was for the most part so unintelligent.

Reardon believed that critics could not offer him any insight he didn't already have; praise was often misguided and criticism usually lacked understanding.

_Highlights Reardon's disdain for literary criticism and his sense of isolation._

> Not he had written this book, but his accursed poverty.

Reardon felt that his poverty, not his own ability, was responsible for the poor quality of his novel.

_Emphasizes the theme of poverty and its impact on artistic integrity._

> I am quite capable of giving the ordinary man or woman ten very useful lessons. I've been working out the scheme; it would amuse you vastly, Reardon.

Whelpdale boasts that he can teach anyone to write a novel in ten lessons, outlining a commercial scheme that mocks the literary profession.

_Illustrates the commercialization of literature and Whelpdale's opportunistic nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/xvi-rejection
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters