# VI explained — The Getting of Wisdom

> Chapter companion for The Getting of Wisdom by Henry Handel Richardson.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Maternal Expectations

Mother's letters impose strict moral and academic expectations on Laura, demanding she be a lady, work hard, and avoid vulgarity.

### Truth, Lies, and Self-Deception

Laura admits to lying about finishing her lessons, and her mother warns that fibbing leads to worse things; Laura later denies the behavior.

## Character check-ins

### Laura Rambotham

Laura writes letters home describing her school life, is scolded by her mother, and promises to behave better.

### Mother

Mother writes a harsh letter reprimanding Laura for vulgarity, lying, and poor spelling, then later relents.

### Pin

Pin writes a childish letter to Laura and is mentioned as hiding Laura's earlier letter from their mother.

### Maria Morell

Maria is described as vulgar, fat, and older than Laura; Laura distances herself from Maria.

### Inez

Inez is one of the two nice girls Laura now befriends in her class.

### Bertha Ramsay

Bertha is the other nice girl Laura befriends in her class.

### Lilith Gordon

Lilith is a girl in Laura's class and room who wears stays and makes fun of the toothless governess.

### Miss Chapman

Miss Chapman supervises Laura's lessons and letter-writing time.

### Miss Day

Miss Day is another governess who is described as not afraid of anybody.

### Mrs. Gurley

Mrs. Gurley is the head of the College, described as fat and unsmiling; Laura calls her an 'awful old beast.'

## Key lines

> I hope you will work hard and distinguish yourself so that I may be proud of you.

Mother expects Laura to excel academically to earn her pride.

_Mother's letter sets high expectations for Laura's performance._

> Fibbing soon leads to something worse.

Lying is a slippery slope to more serious wrongdoing.

_Mother warns Laura about the dangers of dishonesty._

> I think boys are silly but Maria Morell says they are tip top that means awfuly jolly.

Laura finds boys foolish, but Maria thinks they are great fun.

_Laura contrasts her own view with Maria's more romantic interest in boys._

> I will never be so silly again. I am sorry my letters were so silly I wont do it again.

Laura promises to stop writing foolish letters and to behave.

_Laura panics and begs her mother not to complain to the school._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_getting_of_wisdom_se/chapters