# Freshwater Gate explained — The Claverings

> Chapter companion for The Claverings by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Lady Ongar and Sophie Gordeloup travel to Freshwater Gate on the Isle of Wight. Sophie, though ostensibly a devoted friend, secretly informs her brother Count Pateroff of their location. The Count, having been refused entry to Lady Ongar's home, sends a long letter and an enclosure purporting to convey Lord Ongar's wish that she marry the Count. Lady Ongar resists this posthumous control. Meanwhile, Sophie perceives Lady Ongar's attachment to Harry Clavering and sees Florence Burton as an obstacle, playing a complex game to serve her own interests.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Materialism

Count Pateroff's pursuit of Lady Ongar is driven by her fortune, including her seven thousand pounds a year and Ongar Park estate, which he calculates will suit his declining years.

### Betrayal and Redemption

Sophie betrays Lady Ongar's trust by revealing her location to the Count, while pretending to be a devoted friend, and also plots to undermine her relationship with Harry.

### Gender Roles and Power

Lady Ongar resists the Count's attempt to exert control over her through a document claiming Lord Ongar's wishes from beyond the grave, asserting her independence as a widow.

## Character check-ins

### Julia Brabazon

Lady Ongar is staying at Freshwater Gate with Sophie, trying to escape the Count's advances but still haunted by her past.

### Sophie Gordeloup

Sophie accompanies Lady Ongar but secretly betrays her by revealing their location to her brother, the Count, while pretending to be a devoted friend.

### Count Pateroff

The Count pursues Lady Ongar for her wealth, sending a letter and a document claiming Lord Ongar wished them to marry, despite being refused entry to her home.

### Harry Clavering

Harry is the object of Lady Ongar's affection, and Sophie sees him as a major obstacle to her plans.

### Florence Burton

Florence is mentioned as Harry's fiancée, and Sophie uses the story of their engagement to try to influence Lady Ongar.

## Key lines

> A rich woman altogether without a character is a mine of wealth to an innkeeper.

An innkeeper sees a wealthy woman with a questionable reputation as a lucrative source of income.

_Highlights the cynical view that scandalous guests are financially beneficial because they spend freely and don't check bills._

> The old poet told us how Black Care sits behind the horseman, and some modern poet will some day describe to us that terrible goddess as she takes her place with the stoker close to the fire of the locomotive engine.

Just as ancient poets said anxiety rides behind a horseman, a future poet will show how worry accompanies even modern travelers, like a stoker on a train.

_Illustrates that Lady Ongar cannot escape her troubles even in a scenic location like Freshwater Gate._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xxvii-freshwater-gate
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_claverings_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters