# VI explained — Summer

> Chapter companion for Summer by Edith Wharton.

## What happens

Charity overhears Mr. Royall telling Lucius Harney about the Mountain and her own origins as the child of a convict, causing her shame and despair. She reflects on her growing feelings for Harney and the social distance between them.

## Themes in this chapter

### Shame and Social Stigma

Charity's shame upon learning her origins from the Mountain and her fear of being judged by Harney.

### Social Class and Inequality

The gulf between Charity's background and Harney's education and opportunities is highlighted by Mr. Royall's story.

### Isolation and Escape

Charity's desire to escape her past and the isolation of North Dormer contrasts with her entrapment by her origins.

## Character check-ins

### Charity Royall

Overhears Mr. Royall recount her origins from the Mountain, feels humiliated and fears widening the gap between herself and Harney.

### Lucius Harney

Listens to Mr. Royall's story about the Mountain; his presence and deference to Mr. Royall deepen Charity's feelings and anxieties.

### Lawyer Royall

Tells Harney about the Mountain and reveals he brought down a child (Charity) from there; shows satisfaction in having Harney as a boarder and companion.

### Ally Hawes

Mentioned as a seamstress supporting herself and her mother after her sister Julia's departure.

### Julia Hawes

Mentioned as the eldest daughter who deserted her mother, leaving Ally to support the household.

## Key lines

> But beneath the visible incidents resulting from Lucius Harney's arrival there ran an undercurrent as mysterious and potent as the influence that makes the forest break into leaf before the ice is off the pools.

Beneath the surface events of Harney's visit, a powerful and hidden force was stirring in Charity, like nature awakening in early spring.

_Describes Charity's growing emotional and romantic feelings for Harney._

> What did it matter where she came from, or whose child she was, when love was dancing in her veins, and down the road she saw young Harney coming toward her?

Charity's worries about her origins vanished in the joy of seeing Harney approach, as love overwhelmed her.

_Shows Charity's temporary escape from shame through her infatuation._

> She knew at last: knew that she was the child of a drunken convict and of a mother who wasn't 'half human,' and was glad to have her go; and she had heard this history of her origin related to the one being in whose eyes she longed to appear superior to the people about her!

Charity finally understood her true parentage and felt devastated that Harney, whom she wanted to impress, had heard the shameful story.

_Climax of Charity's humiliation and realization of the social barrier between her and Harney._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/summer_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/summer_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/summer_se/chapters