# XXV explained — The Dewy Morn

> Chapter companion for The Dewy Morn by Richard Jefferies.

## What happens

Felise, anxious after Mary's death, goes early to meet Martial. While walking by the brook, she is ambushed and bound by Robert Godwin, who intends to have her trampled by Ruy's horse to destroy her beauty, believing she is Martial's mistress. Martial arrives, shoots Ruy instead of Godwin, rescues Felise, and confesses his love.

## Themes in this chapter

### Obsession and Jealousy

Godwin's obsessive belief that Felise is Martial's mistress drives him to attempt destroying her beauty.

### Beauty and Aesthetic Worship

Godwin's idolization of Felise's beauty leads him to punish her for 'degrading' it, seeking to break it with Ruy's hoof.

### Nature and Spirituality

Felise finds solace and hope in the natural landscape—the brook, sunshine, and breeze—amid her anxiety.

## Character check-ins

### Felise Goring

Walks by the brook, is ambushed and bound by Godwin, rescued by Martial, and awakens to his love.

### Robert Godwin

Ambushes and binds Felise, intending to have Ruy trample her; flees after Martial shoots the horse.

### Martial Barnard

Arrives in time to shoot Ruy, rescues Felise, and declares his love for her.

### Ruy

Godwin's horse, used in the attempted trampling; shot dead by Martial.

### Mary Shaw

Referenced as having died by suicide, contributing to Felise's anxiety.

## Key lines

> His unapproachable idol had degraded herself⁠—she must be punished⁠—her beauty must be broken as idols were broken.

Godwin believed Felise had sullied her own perfection, so he felt compelled to destroy her beauty as one would shatter a fallen idol.

_Reveals Godwin's twisted logic and obsession with Felise's beauty._

> The mere change of his thought⁠—a change effected in the hundredth part of a second⁠—had saved him from this.

In an instant, Martial shifted his aim from Godwin to the horse, sparing himself a lifetime of guilt.

_Highlights Martial's split-second moral decision._

> There are moments when the earth is so beautiful that sorrow seems a dream.

Sometimes the world's loveliness makes grief feel unreal, as if it were only imagined.

_Reflects Felise's emotional state as she walks by the brook._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dewy_morn_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters