The Last Chronicle of Barset · Chapter
LXXXIV: Conclusion explained
The final chapter ties together the loose ends of the story.
What happens
The final chapter ties together the loose ends of the story. Henry Grantly and Grace Crawley are married at Plumstead, with Mr. Crawley officiating and the archdeacon assisting, after a dispute over the venue is resolved by Lady Lufton. Johnny Eames remains a bachelor, having rejected Sir Raffle Buffle's private secretaryship but keeping his office; he ignores letters from Madalina Demolines, who eventually marries Peter Bangles. Conway Dalrymple marries Clara Van Siever after exposing Mr. Musselboro's deceit, and Mrs. Dobbs Broughton elopes with Musselboro. The author offers a final apology for his portrayal of clergymen, defending his focus on their social rather than professional lives, and bids farewell to Barset.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The chapter concludes with multiple marriages: Henry and Grace, Conway and Clara, and the elopement of Mrs. Dobbs Broughton with Musselboro, highlighting the social and personal dimensions of matrimony.
Clergy and Morality
Trollope offers a final apology for his portrayal of clergymen, defending his depiction of their social lives as realistic rather than transcendental, and affirming the moral worth of characters like Archdeacon Grantly and Mr. Harding.
Characters to notice
- Major Grantly
Marries Grace Crawley at Plumstead; defers to family on wedding arrangements.
- Grace Crawley
Married to Henry Grantly; becomes content at St. Ewolds.
- Archdeacon Grantly
Hosts the wedding at Plumstead; in high good humor, bestows a pony carriage on his new daughter-in-law.
- Mr. Crawley
Officiates at his daughter's wedding; becomes quiet and contented at St. Ewolds.
- Johnny Eames
Remains a bachelor; throws over Sir Raffle Buffle but keeps his office; ignores Madalina Demolines's letters.
Key passages
“Early in July, Henry Grantly and Grace Crawley were married in the parish church of Plumstead—a great impropriety, as to which neither Archdeacon Grantly nor Mr. Crawley could be got to assent for a long time, but which was at last carried, not simply by a union of Mrs. Grantly and Mrs. Crawley, nor even by the assistance of Mrs. Arabin, but by the strong intervention of old Lady Lufton herself.”
Henry Grantly and Grace Crawley were married at Plumstead in early July, a decision that both Archdeacon Grantly and Mr. Crawley initially opposed, but which was ultimately pushed through by Lady Lufton's forceful influence, with support from the women of both families.
Highlights the social maneuvering and family dynamics surrounding the wedding venue.
“Johnny Eames, when last I heard of him, was still a bachelor, and, as I think, likely to remain so.”
Johnny Eames remained unmarried at the last report, and the narrator believes he will stay that way.
Summarizes Johnny's romantic outcome, contrasting with the other marriages in the chapter.
“I have described many clergymen, they say, but have spoken of them all as though their professional duties, their high calling, their daily workings for the good of those around them, were matters of no moment, either to me, or, in my opinion, to themselves.”
Critics claim that Trollope has portrayed clergymen without emphasizing their professional duties and spiritual calling.
Introduces Trollope's self-defense regarding his treatment of clerical characters.