The Eustace Diamonds · Chapter
LXVII: The Eye of the Public explained
Lord Fawn struggles to compose a letter to Lizzie Eustace regarding their engagement, torn between his desire to break it off and his fear of public censure.
What happens
Lord Fawn struggles to compose a letter to Lizzie Eustace regarding their engagement, torn between his desire to break it off and his fear of public censure. He receives conflicting advice from family and acquaintances, including the Hittaways, Frank Greystock, Lady Glencora Palliser, and John Eustace, all of whom pressure him to either proceed with or abandon the marriage. Ultimately, he writes a letter offering Lizzie the choice to continue or end the engagement, while subtly discouraging her from accepting.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage as Transaction
Lord Fawn's letter treats the engagement as a contractual matter, weighing worldly gains and losses, and offering Lizzie a choice based on mutual happiness rather than love.
Truth vs. Appearance
Lord Fawn is obsessed with appearing correct in the public eye, even as he doubts Lizzie's honesty and his own feelings.
Legal and Moral Justice
The dispute over the diamonds and the engagement raises questions of legal ownership versus moral obligation, with Lord Fawn seeking to align his actions with public and legal standards.
Characters to notice
- Lord Fawn
Struggles to compose a letter to Lizzie, seeking to put himself right in the eye of the public while navigating pressure from family and friends.
- Lizzie Eustace
The recipient of Lord Fawn's letter; her engagement to him is in question, and public opinion seems to favor her innocence regarding the diamonds.
- Mrs. Hittaway
Persistently advises Lord Fawn against marrying Lizzie, calling her a 'nasty, low, scheming, ill-conducted, dishonest little wretch.'
- Frank Greystock
Continues to interfere in Lord Fawn's affairs regarding the engagement.
- Lady Glencora Palliser
Asks Lord Fawn about the marriage with effrontery, showing interest in Lizzie's fate.
- John Eustace
Writes to Lord Fawn stating the Eustace family does not see ground for complaint against Lizzie regarding the stolen diamonds.
Key passages
“I learned that you were in possession of a large amount of property, vested in diamonds, which was claimed by the executors under your late husband’s will as belonging to his estate; and as to which they declared, in the most positive manner, that you had no right or title to it whatever.”
Lord Fawn explains that he discovered Lizzie held diamonds that the Eustace executors claimed belonged to the estate, not to her.
This is part of Lord Fawn's justification for breaking the engagement.
“I acknowledge that I wish to dissuade you, as I believe that we should not make each other happy.”
Lord Fawn admits he hopes to discourage Lizzie from marrying him, believing they would not be happy together.
This reveals his true desire to end the engagement while leaving the decision to her.
“If asked himself what was his prevailing motive in all that he did or intended to do, he would have declared that it was above all things necessary that he should 'put himself right in the eye of the British public.'”
Lord Fawn's primary motivation is to appear correct and respectable in public opinion.
This highlights the theme of public reputation driving his actions.