His explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Possessiveness and the Sense of Property

  Soames's final exclamation 'By God! this—this thing was his!' encapsulates his view of the baby as a possession, echoing his earlier possessiveness toward Irene and his property.

• Family and Duty

  Soames performs his familial duties by attending to James's funeral and visiting Annette, yet feels emotionally detached from both his wife and the newborn.

• Love vs. Marriage as a Contract

  Soames's realization that he will never be spiritually close to Annette underscores the transactional nature of their marriage; he 'collected her—that was all!'

Characters to notice

• Soames Forsyte

  Returns home after James's funeral; receives news of Annette's delivery; feels disappointment at not having a son; names the baby Fleur and feels a renewed sense of possession.

• Annette Forsyte

  Has given birth to a daughter; is pale and recovering; tells Soames she can have no more children.

• James Forsyte

  Has died; Soames writes his death notice.

• Emily Forsyte

  Kisses Soames and thanks him for his help during James's death.

• Madame Lamotte

  Attends Annette; offends Soames with her matter-of-fact French manner and her adoration of the baby.

Key passages

• “No tree, no shrub, not a blade of grass, not a bird or beast, not even a fish that was not owned.”

  Everything in nature is claimed as private property.

  Reflects Soames's worldview and the theme of possessiveness.

• “By God! this—this thing was his!”

  Soames feels a triumphant sense of ownership over his newborn daughter.

  Climactic expression of the possessive instinct.