# LXI: Drifting Away explained — Romola

> Chapter companion for Romola by George Eliot.

## What happens

Romola, having fled Florence for the second time, stands on the shore at Viareggio, overwhelmed by despair and disillusionment. Her faith in Savonarola has shattered, and she feels the bonds of all affection have been broken. In her anguish, she buys a small boat from a fisherman and sets out to sea, hoping to drift into death or be carried to a new fate. As she lies in the boat under the stars, she feels utterly orphaned and alone, wishing for oblivion.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Marriage

Romola's flight is a direct rebellion against her marriage and the societal expectations placed upon her. She feels that her pledge to her husband was impossible to keep, and she seeks to free herself from that bond, even at the cost of her own life.

### Redemption and Moral Choice

Romola's despair stems from her loss of faith in a higher purpose. She feels that all effort is meaningless, and she wishes to escape the burden of choice by committing herself to the sea, hoping for either death or a new life that might rouse her from her apathy.

### Betrayal and Deception

Romola feels betrayed by Savonarola, whose teachings she now sees as inconsistent and self-serving. This betrayal has shattered her trust in human goodness and left her feeling that all fellowship is mere unfairness.

## Character check-ins

### Romola de' Bardi

In a state of profound despair, Romola has fled Florence again. She has lost faith in Savonarola and feels all her bonds of affection are broken. She buys a boat and drifts out to sea, longing for death or a new destiny.

### Girolamo Savonarola

Though not present, Romola's thoughts are consumed by him. She has lost her trust in him, seeing his striving for reform as egoistic and his political measures as narrow and contradictory. Her disappointment in him is a primary cause of her despair.

### Bardo de' Bardi

Mentioned in memory as Romola recalls reading Boccaccio to him in her girlhood. This memory contrasts her past life of learning and duty with her present state of hopeless drifting.

## Key lines

> Again she had fled from Florence, and this time no arresting voice had called her back.

Romola has left Florence once more, but this time nothing has stopped her.

_This marks her second departure from the city, emphasizing her complete break from her former life._

> The deepest secret of human blessedness has half whispered itself to her, and then forever passed her by.

She has had a glimpse of true happiness, but it is now gone forever.

_This reflects Romola's sense of profound loss and her belief that she has missed her chance at a fulfilling life._

> She despaired of finding any consistent duty belonging to that name.

She no longer believes there is any clear purpose or obligation tied to her identity as Romola.

_Her despair is rooted in a loss of identity and purpose, as the roles that defined her have lost their meaning._

> To be freed from the burden of choice when all motive was bruised, to commit herself, sleeping, to destiny which would either bring death or else new necessities that might rouse a new life in her!

She wants to escape the pain of making decisions by letting fate decide whether she lives or dies.

_This captures her passive surrender to fate, a stark contrast to her earlier active pursuit of duty and justice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romola_se/chapters/lxi-drifting-away
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romola_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/romola_se/chapters