# The Three Attacks explained — The Duke’s Children

> Chapter companion for The Duke’s Children by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Mrs. Finn confronts the Duke about Lady Mary's suffering and argues that she will eventually marry Tregear, urging him to relent. The Duke receives a second letter from Tregear, who pleads his case from his sickbed. These two appeals, along with the Duke's own reflections, form the three attacks on his resolve.

## Themes in this chapter

### Parental Authority and Rebellion

The Duke's struggle to maintain authority over Mary's marriage is challenged by Mrs. Finn's plea and Tregear's letter, illustrating the tension between paternal control and filial love.

### Grief and Loneliness

Mrs. Finn warns that Mary may live 'like a ghost' for twenty years if denied her love, evoking the theme of emotional desolation.

### Love vs. Duty

The Duke's sense of duty to his social order clashes with Mary's devotion to Tregear, a central conflict in the chapter.

## Character check-ins

### The Duke of Omnium

The Duke is besieged by arguments from Mrs. Finn and a letter from Tregear, forcing him to reconsider his opposition to Mary's marriage.

### Mrs. Finn

Mrs. Finn boldly pleads with the Duke, warning that Mary may wither from a broken heart if he persists in refusing Tregear.

### Lady Mary Palliser

Though not directly present, Mary's suffering and devotion to Tregear are the central subjects of the chapter's conflicts.

### Frank Tregear

Tregear writes a second letter to the Duke from his sickbed at Lord Chiltern's house, reiterating his love for Mary.

### Lord Silverbridge

Silverbridge is mentioned as having declared himself in Tregear's favour after the hunting accident.

### Lord Gerald

Gerald returns to his college, briefly noted as part of the household movements.

### Lady Chiltern

Lady Chiltern offers to act as Tregear's secretary and tries to dissuade him from writing the letter.

## Key lines

> But a broken heart may bring the sufferer to the grave after a lapse of many years. How will it be with you if she should live like a ghost beside you for the next twenty years, and you should then see her die, faded and withered before her time—all her life gone without a joy—because she had loved a man whose position in life was displeasing to you?

Mrs. Finn warns the Duke that if he prevents Mary from marrying Tregear, she may live a joyless, ghostlike existence for decades and eventually die of a broken heart.

_This is a key emotional appeal in Mrs. Finn's argument to the Duke._

> I think you will understand me when I say that even in this helpless condition I feel myself constrained to do something.

Tregear writes that despite being bedridden from his accident, he feels compelled to act on behalf of his love for Mary.

_Tregear's letter represents the second attack on the Duke's resolve._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters/lxvi-the-three-attacks
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_duke_s_children_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_duke_s_children_se/chapters