Romola · Chapter
XII: The Prize Is Nearly Grasped explained
Tito, relieved of his immediate fear, visits Bardo and Romola.
What happens
Tito, relieved of his immediate fear, visits Bardo and Romola. Bardo, invigorated by Tito's help with his scholarly work, proposes expanding their project. Tito seizes the moment to ask Bardo for Romola's hand in marriage. Romola affirms her love, and Bardo, though initially cautious and wanting to consult Bernardo del Nero, gives his tentative blessing. Tito feels a pang of regret over his past deceit, hoping Fra Luca's death will end the threat of exposure.
Themes in this chapter
Duty vs. Personal Desire
Romola's life has been one of self-repression and devotion to her father's ambitions. Her declaration of love for Tito is a rare assertion of personal desire against her usual duty-bound existence.
Betrayal and Deception
Tito's joy is undercut by the memory of his initial deceit. He hopes Fra Luca's death will end the danger of being disgraced before Romola, showing the poison of his secret bond.
Knowledge and Erudition
Bardo's life is centered on his scholarly work, and he sees Tito as the 'duct' that has opened the 'plenteous waters' of his mind. The pursuit of knowledge is a primary motivation for the characters.
Characters to notice
- Tito Melema
Feels immediate fear has vanished and is buoyed by the prospect of seeing Romola. He asks Bardo for Romola's hand, but feels a 'spring of bitterness' from his past deceit.
- Romola de' Bardi
Her life is described as an image of loving devotedness. She firmly declares her love for Tito and her wish to marry him, showing a rare moment of personal desire.
- Bardo de' Bardi
Shows new vigor and cheerfulness, eager to expand his scholarly work with Tito. He gives a tentative blessing to the marriage, but insists on consulting Bernardo del Nero first.
- Bernardo del Nero
Mentioned as having warned Bardo about a possible marriage and whose 'keen suspicion' Tito fears will be against him.
Key passages
“He had sold himself to evil, but at present life seemed so nearly the same to him that he was not conscious of the bond.”
Tito has made a morally corrupt bargain, but he doesn't yet feel its consequences, so his daily life appears unchanged.
This highlights Tito's self-deception and the gradual nature of his moral decline.
“It was a brief and simple plea; but it was the condensed story of Romola’s self-repressing colourless young life, which had thrown all its passion into sympathy with aged sorrows, aged ambition, aged pride and indignation.”
Romola's short statement reveals her entire life of quiet self-denial, where all her emotional energy was spent on her father's world of sorrows and ambitions.
This underscores the significance of Romola's choice to want something for herself.