# XX: Showing What Rachel Ray Thought When She Sat on the Stile, and How She Wrote Her Letter Afterwards explained — Rachel Ray

> Chapter companion for Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Rachel, having promised her mother to write a letter to Luke Rowan, retreats to her room to compose her thoughts. She resolves to maintain her dignity and conceal her sorrow, feeling deeply injured by the withdrawal of permission to correspond with Luke. After a quiet afternoon and a solitary walk, she visits her sister Dorothea, where she encounters Mr. Prong and Miss Pucker, and later meets Cherry Tappitt. That night, alone in her bedroom, she writes the letter, which she will show to her mother the next day.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Rachel's internal conflict between her love for Luke and the societal/familial pressure to break off the engagement.

### Family and Filial Duty

Rachel's obedience to her mother's and Mr. Comfort's decision, despite her personal feelings.

### Gender Roles and Independence

Rachel's struggle to assert her own dignity and voice within the constraints of her role as a daughter and a woman.

## Character check-ins

### Rachel Ray

Struggles with her emotions after being told to break off correspondence with Luke; resolves to write a dignified letter.

### Mrs. Ray

Watches over Rachel carefully, offers to accompany her on a walk, and is to read the letter once written.

### Mrs. Prime

Visited by Rachel; declines dinner invitation but agrees to come for tea with Miss Pucker and Mr. Prong.

### Mr. Prong

Present at Mrs. Prime's lodgings; attempts to assert authority over Mrs. Prime regarding the visit.

### Miss Pucker

Also present at Mrs. Prime's; encourages Mrs. Prime to accept the invitation.

### Cherry Tappitt

Meets Rachel on her walk and expresses strong support for Rachel's love for Luke.

## Key lines

> She sat there alone for an hour, and was stronger, when that hour was over, than she had been when she left her mother. Her pride had supported her, and had been sufficient for her support in that first hour of her sorrow.

After an hour of solitude, Rachel felt more composed, her pride helping her to face her grief.

_Highlights Rachel's initial emotional resilience._

> I know it is true that when you asked me that question, I nodded my head as you say in your letter. If I had sworn the twenty oaths of which you speak they would not, as you say, have bound me tighter. But neither could bind me to anything against mamma’s will.

Rachel acknowledges her commitment to Luke but insists that her duty to her mother must take precedence.

_Central to the letter's content and Rachel's conflict between love and filial duty._

## Links

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