Shirley · Chapter
VI: Coriolanus explained
Caroline Helstone, a neglected but beautiful and intelligent young woman, studies French and sewing under her exacting cousin Hortense Moore.
What happens
Caroline Helstone, a neglected but beautiful and intelligent young woman, studies French and sewing under her exacting cousin Hortense Moore. She uses a reading of Shakespeare's Coriolanus to gently advise her cousin Robert Moore on his harsh treatment of his workers, warning him that pride and inflexibility could lead to his downfall. The chapter explores Caroline's character, her family history, and her growing concern for Robert's safety and reputation.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
Caroline criticizes Robert for lumping all poor workers under the insulting name 'the mob' and urges him to treat them with kindness rather than pride.
Gender Roles and Independence
Caroline is confined to domestic tasks like sewing and French grammar, and Mr. Helstone believes women should not concern themselves with politics or business.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Caroline's character is explored through her appearance, her neglected education, and her intuitive, untaught intellect, which emerges in her literary analysis.
Characters to notice
- Caroline Helstone
Described in detail: beautiful, gentle, intelligent, but neglected in her education. She uses literature to counsel Robert Moore on his pride and treatment of workers.
- Robert Moore
Caroline's cousin and object of her concern. He is portrayed as proud and inflexible, and Caroline warns him against treating his workers harshly.
- Hortense Gérard
Caroline's cousin and teacher, strict and proud of her domestic skills, especially fine sewing and French grammar.
- Mr. Helstone
Caroline's uncle and guardian, mentioned as praising Robert's hard spirit and scorn of the mob, and as believing women should only concern themselves with sewing and cooking.
Key passages
“She was the child of parents separated soon after her birth, in consequence of disagreement of disposition. Her mother was the half-sister of Mr. Moore's father; thus, though there was no mixture of blood, she was, in a distant sense, the cousin of Robert, Louis, and Hortense.”
Caroline's parents separated shortly after she was born due to personality conflicts. Her mother was the half-sister of Mr. Moore's father, making Caroline a distant cousin to Robert, Louis, and Hortense, though not by blood.
Explains Caroline's family connection to the Moores.
“I cannot help thinking it unjust to include all poor working-people under the general and insulting name of 'the mob,' and continually to think of them and treat them haughtily.”
Caroline tells Robert it is unfair to label all poor workers as 'the mob' and to treat them with arrogance.
Caroline's moral critique of Robert's class prejudice.
“It was a spice of all; and you must not be proud to your workpeople; you must not neglect chances of soothing them; and you must not be of an inflexible nature, uttering a request as austerely as if it were a command.”
Caroline says Coriolanus's fault was a mix of pride, poor judgment, and inflexibility, and warns Robert not to treat his workers the same way.
Caroline applies the lesson of Coriolanus directly to Robert's behavior.