# IV explained — The Blue Castle

> Chapter companion for The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery.

## What happens

Valancy endures her mother's nagging about wearing a flannel petticoat and leaves the house. She reflects on the ugliness of the Stirling home and envies Jennie Lloyd's new house, feeling bitter about the unfairness of life. She walks through Deerwood, noting the social divisions and her own lack of freedom.

## Themes in this chapter

### Self-Liberation and Rebellion

Valancy seethes with rebellion against her mother's control and the unfairness of life.

### Social Class and Family Dynamics

Valancy reflects on social divisions in Deerwood and her own family's rigid expectations.

### Imagination and Escape

Valancy dreams of a Blue Castle and a little house of her own as an escape from her dreary reality.

## Character check-ins

### Valancy Stirling

Valancy is the protagonist, feeling rebellious and envious as she walks through Deerwood.

### Cousin Stickles

Cousin Stickles calls out to remind Valancy to wear her rubbers.

### Mrs. Stirling

Mrs. Stirling insists Valancy wear a flannel petticoat, citing her past bronchitis.

### Olive Stirling

Olive is mentioned as not needing flannel petticoats and having a more privileged life.

### Clayton Markley

Clayton Markley built a pretty new house for his bride Jennie Lloyd.

### Jennie Lloyd

Jennie Lloyd is the bride-to-be who will live in the new house Valancy envies.

## Key lines

> Got your rubbers on?

Cousin Stickles asks if Valancy is wearing her rubber boots.

_A routine question from Cousin Stickles whenever Valancy goes out in damp weather._

> I don’t envy Jennie the man, but I do envy her the house.

Valancy doesn't want to marry Clayton Markley, but she desperately wishes she had a home like Jennie's.

_Valancy's envy focuses on the house, not the husband._

> there is no use in yowling for the moon when you can’t even get a tallow candle.

It's pointless to dream of something grand when you can't even have something simple.

_Valancy feels hopeless about ever having a home of her own._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_castle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_castle_se/chapters