# The Loves and Hopes of Albert Fitzallen explained — Orley Farm

> Chapter companion for Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Felix Graham, having decided not to marry Mary Snow, seeks to arrange her marriage with Albert Fitzallen. He offers half his remaining capital as a dowry, negotiates with Fitzallen and his mother about a partnership in a chemist's shop, and plans to deal with Mary's father, who has become a drunken impostor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

The chapter explores the practical and romantic aspects of marriage, contrasting Albert's romantic hopes with the financial arrangements made by Graham.

### Social Class and Ambition

Graham's offer of a dowry enables Albert to aspire to a partnership, reflecting class mobility through marriage and money.

## Character check-ins

### Felix Graham

Arranges Mary Snow's marriage to Albert Fitzallen, offering £600 as dowry.

### Mary Snow

The woman Felix Graham has decided not to marry; he arranges her future with Albert Fitzallen.

### Mr. Fitzallen

Albert Fitzallen, a young chemist's assistant, who loves Mary Snow and accepts Graham's proposal.

### Mrs. Fitzallen

Albert's mother, who discusses the practical aspects of the marriage and partnership.

### Mr. Snow

Mary's father, a drunken impostor, whom Graham must still deal with.

## Key lines

> Felix Graham, when he left poor Mary Snow, did not go on immediately to the doctor’s shop. He had made up his mind that Mary Snow should never be his wife, and therefore considered it wise to lose no time in making such arrangements as might be necessary both for his release and for hers.

After leaving Mary, Felix Graham decided to act quickly to arrange her future, since he had resolved not to marry her.

_Graham's decisive action to free himself and provide for Mary._

> The sorrows of Lydia in the play when she finds that her passion meets with general approbation are very absurd but, nevertheless, are quite true to nature. Lovers would be great losers if the path of love were always to run smooth.

Albert feels a sense of anticlimax when his love is easily approved, much like the character Lydia in a play, showing that romance thrives on obstacles.

_The narrator reflects on the nature of love and the loss of romance when difficulties are removed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/orley_farm_se/chapters/lvii-the-loves-and-hopes-of-albert-fitzallen
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