# Requiescat in Pace explained — The Last Chronicle of Barset

> Chapter companion for The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

The chapter depicts the deepening crisis at the palace as Bishop Proudie sinks into a sullen, silent depression, refusing to engage with his wife or his duties. Mrs. Proudie, driven by a mix of ambition and a sense of duty, takes matters into her own hands by sending Mr. Thumble to Hogglestock in response to Mr. Crawley's letter. The bishop, feeling utterly ruined and blaming his wife for his disgrace, threatens to resign the diocese. The chapter ends with Mrs. Proudie's painful realization that her husband hates her, despite her lifelong efforts to serve him and the Church.

## Themes in this chapter

### Clergy and Morality

The bishop's moral crisis and his wife's conflicting sense of duty highlight the tension between personal conscience and public religious obligation.

### Pride and Humility

Mrs. Proudie's pride in her dominion and her husband's humiliated withdrawal illustrate the destructive consequences of pride.

### Family and Duty

The strained marriage and Mrs. Proudie's belief that she is fulfilling her duty as a wife and Christian, despite the harm she causes, explore the complexities of familial duty.

## Character check-ins

### Mrs. Proudie

Struggles with her husband's unprecedented moodiness, attempts gentleness then resorts to firm action, and ultimately realizes she is hated by him.

### Bishop Proudie

Sinks into deep depression and sullen silence, blames his wife for his disgrace, and threatens to resign the diocese.

### Mr. Thumble

Sent by Mrs. Proudie to Hogglestock on the bishop's cob, returns late after trouble on the road.

### Mr. Crawley

His letter to the bishop is the catalyst for the conflict; Mrs. Proudie hates him for the sorrow he has brought upon her house.

## Key lines

> How she hated Mr. Crawley for all the sorrow that he had brought upon her and her house!

Mrs. Proudie felt intense resentment toward Mr. Crawley, blaming him for the troubles and disgrace that had befallen her family.

_Highlights Mrs. Proudie's scapegoating of Mr. Crawley for the palace's internal strife._

> It is the truth. You have brought on me such disgrace that I cannot hold up my head. You have ruined me. I wish I were dead; and it is all through you that I am driven to wish it.

The bishop directly accuses his wife of causing his shame and despair, stating that she has destroyed his reputation and his will to live.

_Shows the bishop's complete breakdown and his open blaming of Mrs. Proudie for his downfall._

> She had meant to be a good Christian; but she had so exercised her Christianity that not a soul in the world loved her, or would endure her presence if it could be avoided!

Despite her sincere intentions to be a devout Christian, Mrs. Proudie's actions had made her universally disliked and isolated.

_Reveals the tragic irony of Mrs. Proudie's self-awareness and the failure of her religious efforts._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxvi-requiescat-in-pace
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters