# Showing Why Harry Clavering Was Wanted at the Rectory explained — The Claverings

> Chapter companion for The Claverings by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Harry Clavering is summoned home by his mother due to a quarrel between his father, the rector, and Mr. Saul over Mr. Saul's renewed suit for Fanny Clavering. The chapter reveals that Fanny has begun to doubt her initial rejection of Mr. Saul, leading to a confrontation where Mr. Saul asks the rector for permission to marry Fanny. The rector refuses, citing their lack of money and Mr. Saul's lower social standing, and demands that Mr. Saul either end the suit or leave the parish.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Ambition

Mr. Clavering's objection to Mr. Saul's suit is rooted in class distinctions, viewing Mr. Saul as an outsider from the 'outer circle' of clergy.

### Love and Marriage

Fanny's internal conflict between her growing love for Mr. Saul and the practical impossibility of the match highlights the tension between affection and social/financial realities.

### Duty and Moral Obligation

Fanny feels duty-bound to consider her parents' wishes and the practicalities of marriage, while Mr. Saul argues it is her duty to acknowledge her love.

## Character check-ins

### Harry Clavering

Summoned home by his mother to mediate the quarrel between his father and Mr. Saul.

### Fanny Clavering

Torn between her growing affection for Mr. Saul and the practical impossibility of the match; she has not yet confided in her mother.

### Mr. Saul

Renews his suit for Fanny's hand and confronts the rector, refusing to abandon his hopes despite being ordered to leave the parish.

### Mrs. Clavering

Writes to Harry about the trouble and has observed Fanny's increased diligence with the poor, but has not yet spoken to her.

### Harry Clavering

The rector, who quarrels with Mr. Saul over his suit for Fanny and insists the marriage is impossible due to lack of money and social class.

## Key lines

> A woman, when she doubts whether she loves or does not love, is inclined five parts out of six towards the man of whom she is thinking. When a woman doubts she is lost, the cynics say. I simply assert, being no cynic, that when a woman doubts she is won.

The narrator suggests that a woman's uncertainty about her feelings usually means she is leaning toward love, and that doubt itself is a sign of being won over.

_Narrator's commentary on Fanny's evolving feelings for Mr. Saul._

> Mr. Saul, whose intellect was more acute, took advantage of her here, and chose to believe that that matter of her affection was now conceded to him. He knew what he was doing well, and is open to a charge of some Jesuitry.

Mr. Saul cleverly interprets Fanny's silence as acceptance of his love, using her hesitation to his advantage in a somewhat manipulative manner.

_Describes Mr. Saul's strategic approach during his second proposal._

## Links

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