The Last Chronicle of Barset · Chapter
Major Grantly at Home explained
Major Grantly visits Plumstead with his daughter Edith, where his family discusses the Crawley affair and the archdeacon subtly pressures him to abandon his intention to marry Grace Crawley by hinting at an equal inheritance with his brothe
What happens
Major Grantly visits Plumstead with his daughter Edith, where his family discusses the Crawley affair and the archdeacon subtly pressures him to abandon his intention to marry Grace Crawley by hinting at an equal inheritance with his brother Charles. The major resolves to go to Allington and inform his mother of his decision.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Duty
Major Grantly's internal conflict between filial duty and his desire to marry Grace Crawley is central to the chapter.
Social Class and Reputation
The archdeacon's opposition to the marriage stems from the Crawley family's disgrace and lower social standing.
Love and Marriage
The chapter explores the tension between romantic love and familial expectations in marriage.
Characters to notice
- Major Grantly
Resolves to marry Grace Crawley despite his father's implicit bribe of an equal inheritance.
- Archdeacon Grantly
Pressures his son by hinting at disinheritance if he marries Grace Crawley.
- Mrs. Grantly
Reads a letter from Mrs. Arabin and discusses the Crawley affair with the family.
- Mr. Harding
Visits Plumstead, dotes on Edith, and reminisces about the past with the archdeacon.
- Grace Crawley
The subject of Major Grantly's marriage intentions, though not present in the chapter.
- Edith
Major Grantly's daughter, who is the center of attention upon arrival at Plumstead.
Key passages
“Give up Grace Crawley, and you shall share alike with your brother. Disgrace yourself by marrying her, and your brother shall have everything.”
The archdeacon implicitly offers Major Grantly an equal inheritance if he abandons Grace Crawley, but threatens disinheritance if he marries her.
This ultimatum crystallizes the central conflict of the chapter.
“I see in Galignani that a clergyman in Barsetshire has been committed for theft. Pray tell me who it is. Not the bishop, I hope, for the credit of the diocese?”
Mrs. Arabin writes from France, having learned of Mr. Crawley's committal from a newspaper, and jokingly hopes it is not the bishop.
This shows how news of the scandal has spread even abroad.