The Enchanted April · Chapter
IV explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Wilkins travel to San Salvatore, arriving on March 31st. The chapter details their anxious March: Mrs. Wilkins tells her husband Mellersh about the trip, leading to conflict; Mrs. Arbuthnot struggles with guilt over her deception and her conscience. They depart feeling guilty but gradually find joy as they leave England behind.
Themes in this chapter
Escape and Renewal
The women's journey to Italy represents a physical and emotional escape from their constrained lives, though marred by guilt.
Religion and Spirituality
Mrs. Arbuthnot's conscience and prayers are central; she feels she is slipping away from God due to her deception.
Social Class and Money
Mr. Wilkins's offer to take Lotty to Italy reflects his sense of financial and social control; Rose's guilt over spending money on pleasure contrasts with her charity work.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Wilkins
Anxious about telling Mellersh about the trip; feels guilty but determined; experiences joy after leaving England.
- Mrs. Arbuthnot
Tormented by conscience over the deception; gives £100 to charity; writes a note to Frederick before leaving.
- Mr. Wilkins
Initially disbelieves Lotty's invitation; later offers to take her to Italy himself; cross-examines her.
- Frederick
Gives Rose £100 without asking questions; is away working and unaware of her departure.
Key passages
“It had been arranged that Mrs. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Wilkins, travelling together, should arrive at San Salvatore on the evening of March 31st”
The two women planned to reach San Salvatore together on the evening of March 31st.
Sets the timeline for their arrival.
“Mrs. Wilkins, her heart in her mouth and her face a mixture of guilt, terror and determination, told her husband that she had been invited to Italy, and he declined to believe it.”
Lotty nervously told Mellersh about the invitation, but he refused to believe her.
Highlights the conflict between Lotty and Mellersh.
“Mrs. Arbuthnot’s conscience, made super-sensitive by years of pampering, could not reconcile what she was doing with its own high standard of what was right.”
Rose's overly sensitive conscience troubled her because her actions didn't meet her moral standards.
Illustrates Rose's internal struggle.
“Mellersh at Calais had already begun to dwindle and seem less important.”
As they reached Calais, Mellersh's significance faded for Lotty.
Shows the psychological distance growing as they travel.