The Dewy Morn · Chapter
XII explained
Barnard, having met Felise, attempts to erase all traces of their encounter by throwing her handkerchief and a piece of plaited mane into the sea and cutting the letter M from the beech tree.
What happens
Barnard, having met Felise, attempts to erase all traces of their encounter by throwing her handkerchief and a piece of plaited mane into the sea and cutting the letter M from the beech tree. The chapter then recounts his earlier two-year courtship of Rosa Wood, the daughter of a wealthy wine merchant. Initially infatuated, Barnard idealizes Rosa, but gradually his passion fades and he sees her as commonplace. When Mr. Wood discovers Barnard's poverty and forces a break in the engagement, Barnard feels a secret relief but resolves to remain faithful out of a sense of duty and romance.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Idealization
Barnard's initial courtship of Rosa is driven by romantic fantasy; he projects poetical attributes onto her, only to later see her as ordinary when the illusion fades.
Obsession and Jealousy
Barnard's compulsion to destroy all traces of Felise and his stubborn adherence to a duty-bound love reflect an obsessive need to control his own emotions.
Social Class and Injustice
Barnard's poverty and reliance on borrowed money lead to the dissolution of his engagement, underscoring the class-based constraints on marriage.
Characters to notice
- Martial Barnard
Attempts to destroy all reminders of his meeting with Felise; reflects on his past courtship of Rosa Wood, which has faded into weariness and a sense of duty.
- Felise Goring
Referenced through the handkerchief and plaited mane that Barnard discards; she is the object of his recent encounter.
- Rosa Wood
The daughter and heiress of Mr. Wood; Barnard's former idealized love, now seen as commonplace; she accepts the broken engagement calmly.
- Mr. Wood
Wealthy wine merchant who discovers Barnard's poverty and insists the engagement be broken off.
- Robert Godwin
Mentioned as the agent who reported that Barnard's rent is in arrears.
Key passages
“Though he did not write verses, he looked upon her, and acted towards her, as a poet might.”
He treated Rosa with the refined, imaginative devotion of a poet, even though he never composed poetry.
Illustrates Barnard's idealization of Rosa.
“The truth was the dream was fading, and he was beginning to see the woman as she was, and not as he had painted her to himself.”
His romantic illusion was dissolving, and he started perceiving Rosa's true, ordinary nature.
Marks the turning point in Barnard's feelings.
“He would not be fooled any more; or, rather, he would not fool himself a second time.”
He resolved to stop deceiving himself about his emotions.
Barnard's determination after discarding Felise's tokens.