XLIX: Breathing Tranquillity explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Gender Roles and Women's Agency

  Margaret asserts her independence, taking control of her own life and duties despite societal expectations, while Edith playfully warns against becoming 'strong-minded.'

• Love and Marriage

  The growing intimacy between Margaret and Henry Lennox is observed by the family, who hope for a match, though both are cautious and private about their feelings.

• Industrialization and Progress

  Henry Lennox admires Milton's energy and power, while Margaret candidly points out the selfish and material ends of its inhabitants, reflecting on the moral costs of industrial progress.

Characters to notice

• Margaret Hale

  Now an heiress, Margaret asserts her independence, takes control of her life, and grows closer to Henry Lennox as her legal adviser. She still regrets being misunderstood by Mr. Thornton.

• Henry Lennox

  Acts as Margaret's legal adviser and grows increasingly intimate with her, appreciating Milton's character while being blind to its materialism until Margaret points it out.

• Edith

  Margaret's cousin, who playfully teases Henry about his interest in Margaret and worries about Margaret becoming 'strong-minded.'

• Captain Lennox

  Edith's husband, who is consulted in family decisions about Margaret's future and learns of her inheritance.

• Mrs. Shaw

  Margaret's aunt, who reluctantly acquiesces to Margaret's desire for independence.

• Mr. Bell

  Recently deceased; his death prevents Margaret from having the truth about Frederick's visit and Leonards' death explained to Mr. Thornton.

Key passages

• “She had learnt, in those solemn hours of thought, that she herself must one day answer for her own life, and what she had done with it; and she tried to settle that most difficult problem for woman, how much was to be utterly merged in obedience to authority, and how much might be set apart for freedom in working.”

  Margaret realized she would ultimately be accountable for her own life and actions, and she grappled with the challenge of balancing obedience to authority with personal freedom.

  Reflects Margaret's growing sense of personal responsibility and her struggle with gender roles.

• “She might just submit, like many another, to be misunderstood; but, though reasoning herself into the belief that in this hers was no uncommon lot, her heart did not ache the less with”

  Margaret resigned herself to being misunderstood, like many others, but this rationalization did not lessen her emotional pain.

  Highlights Margaret's lingering regret over Mr. Thornton's misunderstanding of her actions.