The Getting of Wisdom · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to an unnamed little collaborator, acknowledging a shared creative effort.
Chapter 2
Epigraph
The chapter opens with a biblical epigraph from Proverbs 4:7, emphasizing the supreme value of wisdom and the pursuit of understanding.
Chapter 3
The Getting of Wisdom
Laura Rambotham leaves her family home to attend boarding school, experiencing a mix of excitement and anxiety. She is accompanied by her mother and younger siblings to the train station, where she says goodbye and begins her journey into a new world of education and social dynamics.
Chapter 4
I
On her last night at home before leaving for boarding school, Laura Rambotham cuts off one of her prized curls to bind a bouquet for her mother, hoping to prove her selflessness. Her mother reacts with anger, upset that Laura has disfigured herself. Laura feels misunderstood and retreats to her room, but her natural buoyancy returns as she finds a way to hide the gap. The chapter establishes the tension between Laura's desire for approval and her mother's stern expectations, as well as Laura's pride in her hair and her dramatic fainting spell that has set her apart in the family.
Chapter 5
II
On the morning of her departure for boarding school, Laura awakens and deliberately avoids a private conversation with her mother, fearing another uncomfortable talk about growing up. She hides in the summerhouse until called for breakfast. Her mother, anxious and stern, prepares sandwiches for the journey while Sarah and the younger children fuss over Laura. After a tense breakfast, Laura says goodbye to her beloved garden, pets, and siblings, extracting promises from them to care for her animals. The chapter ends with Laura dressing hastily as the coach arrives.
Chapter 6
III
Laura travels alone by coach and train to boarding school in Melbourne. She experiences a mix of pride, grief, and embarrassment during the journey, fending off the well-meaning but intrusive sympathy of strangers. Her daydreams of an idealized school life contrast sharply with the awkward reality of her arrival, where she feels self-conscious about her appearance and her overly eager greeting is met with cool nods.
Chapter 7
IV
Laura arrives at her godmother's house and is met with criticism about her appearance, particularly her hat. She then visits the boarding school with her godmother and cousin, where she meets the stern Lady Superintendent, Mrs. Gurley, and experiences the oppressive atmosphere of the institution. Laura tries to please Mrs. Gurley but is rebuked for pointing and commenting on her apron, and later faces scrutiny over her religious affiliation.
Chapter 8
V
Laura endures her first day at boarding school, facing ridicule from older girls over her name and background, struggling to find her place, and retreating into tearful isolation at night.
Chapter 9
VI
Laura writes home about her life at boarding school, describing her classes, meals, and the other girls. Her mother responds with a stern letter scolding her for vulgar language, lying, and poor spelling, and warns her to choose better friends. Laura panics and begs her mother not to complain to the school authorities, promising to reform. The chapter closes with a more conciliatory letter from her mother and a final note from Laura about her progress.
Chapter 10
VII
Laura struggles to adapt to the harsh discipline and social codes of her boarding school. After a humiliating public rebuke from Mrs. Gurley for her informal manner, she becomes timid and avoids her. The chapter details the school's cold morning routines, the intimidating presence of Mrs. Gurley, and Laura's academic difficulties. She forms a tentative friendship with Bertha Ramsay and Inez, who reveal that Bertha's mother has a drinking problem, shocking Laura. The chapter highlights Laura's growing disillusionment and her desperate efforts to fit in.
Chapter 11
VIII
Laura receives an invitation to spend a monthly holiday at Godmother's house in Prahran. She waits anxiously for Marina to pick her up, enduring humiliation when she is the last girl left. Marina arrives late and takes Laura on a lengthy shopping expedition before they finally reach home. At Godmother's, Laura experiences a cold, loveless family atmosphere, with snappish exchanges and neglect. The boys bully her, leaving her to sit alone in the garden for hours. She is relieved to return to school on Monday morning.
Chapter 12
IX
Laura returns to school after a disappointing holiday at Godmother's, feeling relieved to be back. She receives a scolding letter from her mother for her lack of gratitude. Laura forms a friendship with Inez and Bertha, gaining social comfort, but also becomes complacent. A geography lesson with Miss Hicks sparks a painful self-awareness about her intellectual laziness, leading her to try to cultivate genuine curiosity. However, her efforts to impress during a visit to Mr. Strachey's drawing room backfire: she makes a tactless remark about a portrait of Dante, is humiliated by Mrs. Gurley, and is ostracized by her peers for perceived arrogance.
Chapter 13
The Purple Dress and the Price of Conformity
Laura adapts to school life, learning that deviation from the norm is the unpardonable sin. She is promoted, begins Latin, and becomes a model pupil. She befriends the wealthy Tilly Macnamara, but struggles with her own poverty and the mortification of her mother's unconventional dressmaking. A vivid purple dress becomes a symbol of her social anxiety, leading to lies and self-deception to hide her mother's handiwork.
Chapter 14
XI
Laura's friendship with Lilith Gordon deepens despite her distrust, leading her to foolishly reveal that her mother works for a living. When Lilith is later mocked for her uncle's trade, Laura joins in the ridicule, only to be threatened by Lilith with exposure of her secret. Laura lives in fear of being ostracized, and the governesses notice her changed behavior.
Chapter 15
XII
Laura reflects on the public expulsion of Annie Johns for theft, feeling a troubling empathy and fascination that sets her apart from her peers. She struggles with her own nonconformist thoughts and fears being ostracized. The chapter explores the pressure to conform and the fear of being different, culminating in a nightmare about her own expulsion.
Chapter 16
XIII
Laura is promoted two forms at Christmas, now a thin thirteen-year-old with a long dark plait. She and Tilly are the only intimates to skip a class, throwing them together more exclusively. The older girls in their new form initially stand on their dignity, but Laura and Tilly soon discover their secret bond: using the Bible to obtain forbidden knowledge about sex. Laura proves nimble-witted and becomes one of the most audacious Bible-readers, joining the older girls in their clandestine discussions. The chapter explores the girls' distorted understanding of sexuality, warped by the school's prudishness and their own wild speculations. Laura, however, remains detached from the intense interest in the opposite sex that drives her companions, still finding boys 'silly' until an experience at the beginning of autumn begins to awaken her.
Chapter 17
XIV
Laura is invited to lunch with Tilly's relatives, where she is told that her cousin Bob is 'gone on' her. The day involves dressing up, promenading Collins Street, and an awkward encounter with Bob, who is more interested in other girls. Lunch at the house is tense, with Uncle Tom teasing Laura about his missing scent.
Chapter 18
XV
Laura continues to struggle with social expectations and her own feelings of inadequacy, particularly in interactions with boys. After a failed attempt to converse with a boy at a cricket match, she reflects on her inability to flirt and attract male attention like her peers. She seeks advice from friends Chinky and Maria Morell, but finds their strategies unsatisfying. Laura observes the preoccupation of her classmates with romance and physical appearance, feeling like an outsider who cannot share their single-minded focus on marriage as the ultimate goal after school.
Chapter 19
XVI
Laura visits the Shepherd household for a holiday, where she observes the strained domestic dynamics between the irritable Mr. Shepherd (Robby), his submissive wife Maisie, and his sister Isabella. Despite the tense meals and constant fussing over Robby's needs, Laura enjoys reading King Solomon's Mines and later listens to Robby's captivating travel stories, leaving with mixed feelings about the visit.
Chapter 20
XVII
Laura fabricates an elaborate romantic story about her visit to the Shepherd household, inventing a secret affair with Mr. Shepherd to maintain her social standing among her peers. She skillfully weaves lies about his unhappy marriage, his aristocratic background, and his future bishopric, captivating her audience despite the risk of exposure. Her success emboldens her, but also strains her friendship with Chinky, who seeks a deeper connection.
Chapter 21
XVIII
Laura's elaborate lies about a romance with the curate Mr. Shepherd are exposed, leading to her ostracization by her peers. She is humiliated, called a 'lying sneak,' and shunned by former friends like Maria, Kate Horner, and Tilly Macnamara. The chapter details her fall from grace, her desperate attempts to avoid exposure, and her isolation as she faces the consequences of her fabrications.
Chapter 22
XIX
Laura endures complete social ostracism at school after being branded a liar, and the situation worsens when Chinky is expelled for theft, having claimed she stole to buy Laura a ring. Laura is now seen as a confederate. She counts down the days to Christmas, but a letter from Mother delays her return due to her brothers' illness, sending her and Pin to a seaside resort. There, Laura grows distant from Pin, who criticizes her changed behavior, leading to a bitter quarrel. Laura realizes she no longer fits in at home and decides she belongs at school despite her suffering.
Chapter 23
The Rebel's Return
Laura returns to school after the holidays, facing quiet but persistent ostracism from her peers. She adopts a strategy of slyness and toadying to regain her place, while inwardly rebelling against the injustice of her situation. She is moved into a room with M. P. and Cupid, and after initial coldness, she slowly wins M. P.'s approval through diligent work and careful behavior, though she suppresses her own true feelings. A philosophical discussion about truth reveals Laura's questioning nature and her struggle to conform.
Chapter 24
XXI
Laura is invited to join the boarders' Literary Society, which marks a turning point in her social reintegration. She struggles to write a piece for the society, first attempting a romantic novel set in Venice, which fails miserably. After receiving advice from Cupid to write about everyday life, she produces a tedious, overly detailed account of a school day, which is also poorly received. Through these failures, Laura begins to grapple with the difference between romanticized fiction and realistic writing, influenced by her accidental reading of Ibsen's 'A Doll's House.'
Chapter 25
XXII
Laura is assigned to share a room with Evelyn Souttar, a popular and wealthy older girl. Initially resentful, Laura discovers Evelyn chose her as a roommate, leading to a deep friendship. Evelyn's easygoing nature and acceptance help Laura regain confidence, and she confesses her past deception about the Shepherds, which Evelyn finds amusing. Their bond grows through late-night talks, but Laura faces a rude awakening when she meets Evelyn's sophisticated family and friends.
Chapter 26
Gut und böse und Lust und Leid und Ich und Du
Laura's obsessive friendship with Evelyn Souttar reaches a crisis as Evelyn prepares to leave school. Laura's jealousy, possessiveness, and inability to focus on her studies lead to her failing the midwinter test examinations. The chapter explores Laura's emotional turmoil, her fear of losing Evelyn, and her growing awareness of the fleeting nature of happiness.
Chapter 27
XXIV
Laura returns home for the holidays burdened by her secret failure and the fear of disappointing her mother, who has sacrificed much for her education. She becomes irritable and quarrels with Pin, and feels increasingly isolated. Back at school, without Evelyn, she throws herself into her studies but finds solace in a renewed religious fervor, praying fervently for success in her examinations.
Chapter 28
XXV
Laura and her friends discuss their future aspirations before parting ways. Laura expresses a desire to see the world but feels like a square peg in a round hole. She leaves school with a sense of unfitness, yet the narrative hints at a future where she finds her place. On her final day, Pin arrives to fetch her, and Laura impulsively runs through a park, reveling in her newfound freedom.
