The Forsyte Saga · Chapter
In the Web explained
Soames Forsyte, entangled in his pursuit of a divorce from Irene, visits Madame Lamotte to gauge her daughter Annette's availability.
What happens
Soames Forsyte, entangled in his pursuit of a divorce from Irene, visits Madame Lamotte to gauge her daughter Annette's availability. He learns that Annette is not yet committed to a young doctor due to lack of money, hinting at a potential match with Soames. Later, Mr. Polteed reports that his agent has gathered what he considers conclusive evidence of Irene's infidelity in Paris, but Soames realizes the evidence points to himself, not a lover. He dismisses the report and instructs Polteed to watch another subject, feeling trapped and humiliated by the sordid affair.
Themes in this chapter
Possessiveness and the Sense of Property
Soames views Annette as a potential acquisition and treats the divorce as a business transaction, reflecting his proprietary attitude toward women.
Love vs. Marriage as a Contract
Soames's pursuit of Annette is purely pragmatic, contrasting with the romantic attachment between Annette and the young doctor, highlighting marriage as a social and financial contract.
Gender and Power
Madame Lamotte wields subtle power in negotiating Annette's future, while Soames's frustration with the detective work underscores his loss of control over Irene.
Characters to notice
- Soames Forsyte
Visits Madame Lamotte to discuss Annette and later meets with Mr. Polteed about the divorce case; feels like a fly in a web.
- Madame Lamotte
Receives Soames's visit; shrewdly assesses his interest in Annette while protecting her daughter's prospects.
- Annette Forsyte
Mentioned as the object of Soames's marital ambitions; currently courted by a young doctor but not engaged.
- Polteed
Private detective who reports to Soames about the surveillance of Irene; mistakenly identifies Soames as her lover.
- Irene Forsyte
Subject of Soames's divorce efforts; reported to have left Paris with an unknown man, though the evidence is flawed.
Key passages
“He felt like a fly, entangled in cobweb filaments, watching the desirable freedom of the air with pitiful eyes.”
Soames felt trapped and helpless, longing for a freedom that seemed out of reach.
Soames's sense of entrapment in his divorce situation.
“The spidery, dirty, ridiculous business!”
Soames thought the detective work was sordid and absurd.
Soames's disgust with the private investigation into Irene.
“I am a rich man... It is useless to say more at present, but I think you understand.”
Soames hinted to Madame Lamotte that his wealth could secure Annette's future.
Soames's indirect proposal to Madame Lamotte regarding Annette.