Pimpernel and Rosemary · Chapter
XXXI explained
Rosemary, oppressed by a storm and her own turmoil, reflects on Elza's agonizing decision, Jasper's remorse, and her own conflicted feelings about Peter.
What happens
Rosemary, oppressed by a storm and her own turmoil, reflects on Elza's agonizing decision, Jasper's remorse, and her own conflicted feelings about Peter. She sees Peter in a lightning flash, dreams of him, and resolves to live up to a new standard of duty to Jasper despite her inner despair.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Rosemary's internal conflict between her love for Peter and her duty to Jasper highlights the theme of sacrifice in personal relationships.
Marriage and Unrequited Love
Rosemary's realization that she may never love Jasper and her dread of a life of forced affection underscore the theme of unfulfilled marriage.
Deception and Betrayal
The suspicion that Peter is a Romanian spy and Rosemary's hidden feelings create an undercurrent of deception and betrayal.
Characters to notice
- Rosemary Fowkes
Struggles with her decision, her feelings for Peter, and her duty to Jasper; sees Peter in a lightning flash and dreams of him.
- Elza Imrey
Rosemary imagines Elza wrestling with a heart-wrenching decision, describing her as a pagan heroine without religious comfort.
- Jasper Tarkington
Appears meek and remorseful; Rosemary feels sorry for him and tries to comfort him, but later dreads a future of forced affection.
- Peter Blakeney
Appears in Rosemary's thoughts and in a lightning flash; she dreams of him and recalls their past romance.
- Philip Imrey
Appears in Rosemary's storm-lit visions as an idealist.
- Anna Heves
Appears in Rosemary's storm-lit visions as gentle and resigned.
Key passages
“Rosemary’s thoughts now were with Elza. She pictured to herself the unfortunate woman wrestling with a decision which either way must mean the breaking of her heart.”
Rosemary imagines Elza struggling with a heartbreaking decision.
Highlights Elza's internal conflict and Rosemary's empathy.
“She had never loved Jasper, only hoped that she might learn to love him one day, but on this fateful evening she realised that she might in time learn to hate him.”
Rosemary acknowledges she never loved Jasper and fears she may come to hate him.
Reveals the depth of Rosemary's marital disillusionment.
“She dreamt that all her suspicions of Peter had been proved to be wrong. She dreamt that she was a few years younger, that they were on the river together, in a punt, and that the nightingale was singing.”
Rosemary dreams that Peter is innocent and they are young lovers on the river.
Shows Rosemary's subconscious desire for Peter and her hope that he is not a spy.