# The Beginning of Persecution explained — The American Senator

> Chapter companion for The American Senator by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Mary Masters returns home to face pressure from her stepmother and father to accept Lawrence Twentyman's marriage proposal. Despite having asked for two months to decide, she is now told she has given 'as good as a promise' and must comply. Meanwhile, Mr. Masters is triumphant over Goarly's acceptance of Lord Rufford's settlement and the failure of the American Senator's intervention.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage and Financial Necessity

Mary is pressured to marry Twentyman for financial stability, with her stepmother emphasizing the need for preparation and her father's difficulties in obtaining money.

### Love vs. Practicality

Mary's personal feelings conflict with the practical expectations of her family, who view Twentyman as a highly valuable suitor.

### Justice and Class Bias

Mr. Masters and the club celebrate Goarly's capitulation to Lord Rufford, reflecting class bias against a poor man being 'propped up' to annoy his betters.

## Character check-ins

### Mary Masters

Under intense pressure from her stepmother to marry Lawrence Twentyman, Mary resists, insisting she cannot help her feelings and that she never gave a promise.

### Mr. Masters

Pleased with his handling of the Goarly case and the cheque from Mr. Morton, but distressed by Mary's refusal of Twentyman.

### Lawrence Twentyman

Anxiously awaiting Mary's decision, he is disheartened by Mrs. Masters' cold tone but remains honourable, waiting the full two months.

### Goarly

Has accepted 7s. 6d. an acre from Lord Rufford and withdrawn his claim, to the triumph of the club and Mr. Masters.

### Nickem

Mysterious about further triumphs in the Goarly case, taking credit for his own role.

## Key lines

> I can't help it, said Mary, bursting out into tears. Can't help it! Did anybody ever see such an idiot since girls were first created? Not help it, after having given him as good as a promise! You must help it. You must be made to help it.

Mary tearfully insists she cannot change her feelings, but her stepmother scolds her as foolish and insists she must be forced to marry Twentyman.

_Illustrates the coercive family pressure on Mary regarding marriage._

> Of course he has taken it, Larry. The worse luck for me. If he had gone on I might have had a bill against his Lordship as long as my arm. Now it won't be worth looking after.

Mr. Masters regrets that Goarly's settlement with Lord Rufford deprives him of a potentially lucrative legal case.

_Shows the attorney's financial interest in prolonging the dispute._

## Links

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