Romola · Chapter
VI: Dawning Hopes explained
Tito Melema is presented to Bardo de' Bardi by Nello, the barber.
What happens
Tito Melema is presented to Bardo de' Bardi by Nello, the barber. Bardo, a blind scholar, is impressed by Tito's Greek learning and offers his patronage. Romola, Bardo's daughter, is struck by Tito's youth and beauty, and a mutual attraction begins to form. Bardo discusses a potential scholarly collaboration with Tito, while Tito mentions his need to sell some gems. Romola feels a new sense of comradeship with Tito, and her initial coldness melts into a smile.
Themes in this chapter
Knowledge and Erudition
Bardo's passion for scholarship and his desire to collaborate with Tito on a new work highlight the value placed on learning and the pursuit of knowledge.
Female Agency and Marriage
Romola's role as her father's helper and her initial self-deprecation reflect the limited agency of women in scholarly and domestic spheres.
Characters to notice
- Tito Melema
Presented to Bardo as a Greek scholar; his charm and beauty immediately affect Romola.
- Romola de' Bardi
Surprised by Tito's youth and beauty; her proud demeanor softens as she feels a new sense of comradeship.
- Bardo de' Bardi
Blind scholar who welcomes Tito and envisions a collaborative scholarly work.
- Nello
The barber who introduces Tito to Bardo, praising his learning and character.
Key passages
“It seemed like a wreath of spring, dropped suddenly in Romola’s young but wintry life, which had inherited nothing but memories—memories of a dead mother, of a lost brother, of a blind father’s happier time—memories of far-off light, love, and beauty, that lay embedded in dark mines of books, and could hardly give out their brightness again until they were kindled for her by the torch of some known joy.”
Tito's presence brought a sudden burst of warmth and vitality into Romola's otherwise bleak and memory-filled existence, which had been confined to the shadows of her father's scholarly world.
Highlights the transformative effect of Tito's arrival on Romola's emotional state.
“Romola had never dreamed that there was a scholar in the world who would smile at a deficiency for which she was constantly made to feel herself a culprit. It was like the dawn of a new sense to her—the sense of comradeship.”
Romola was astonished that a scholar would react kindly to her lack of memory, a flaw she was often blamed for; this moment gave her a feeling of shared understanding and connection.
Shows the beginning of a bond between Romola and Tito, based on mutual acceptance.