# More of My Obstinacy explained — The Law and the Lady

> Chapter companion for The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

Valeria reads a letter from Eustace in which he expresses his shame and sorrow over the trial and begs his mother to dissuade Valeria from her project to clear his name. Despite Mrs. Macallan's warnings and the letter's discouraging tone, Valeria resolves to continue her plan and return to Miserrimus Dexter, believing he can help her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage and Identity

Valeria's identity is deeply tied to her marriage; she is determined to restore Eustace's honor despite his wishes.

### Madness and Rationality

Valeria debates whether Miserrimus Dexter is truly mad or merely eccentric, highlighting the blurred line between sanity and imagination.

### Love and Sacrifice

Valeria's love for Eustace drives her to sacrifice her own comfort and ignore warnings to pursue his vindication.

### Secrets and Deception

Eustace's letter reveals the secret shame he carries from the trial, and Valeria seeks to uncover the truth about Mrs. Macallan's death.

## Character check-ins

### Valeria

Valeria reads Eustace's letter and is moved to tears, but it strengthens her resolve to pursue her plan to clear his name.

### Mrs. Macallan

Mrs. Macallan shows Valeria Eustace's letter and warns her against returning to Miserrimus Dexter, expressing genuine concern for her well-being.

### Eustace Macallan

Eustace's letter reveals his ongoing love for Valeria, his shame about the trial, and his desire for her to abandon her project.

### Miserrimus Dexter

Valeria defends Dexter against accusations of madness and decides to seek his help, believing he can assist her in her mission.

### Ariel

Ariel is mentioned as the cousin who will call for Valeria in the pony-chaise the next day.

### Benjamin

Benjamin's house is where Mrs. Macallan drops Valeria off and where the pony-chaise arrives the next morning.

## Key lines

> I know I am not prudent; but prudence won’t help a woman in my position, with my end to gain.

Valeria admits she is being reckless, but believes caution is useless for achieving her goal.

_Valeria's determination to pursue her plan despite warnings._

> I believe the shame and the horror of it would have been the death of me if I had met her face to face when she first knew of the ignominy that I have suffered, of the infamous suspicion of which I have been publicly made the subject.

Eustace writes that the disgrace of being accused of murder would have killed him if he had faced Valeria after she learned the truth.

_Eustace's deep shame and emotional pain regarding the trial._

> The kindest thing I can do—the one atonement I can make to her—is to drop out of her life.

Eustace believes the best way to make amends to Valeria is to leave her life entirely.

_Eustace's misguided sense of sacrifice and his desire to protect Valeria from his shame._

> It seems to me that he only expresses—I admit in a very reckless and boisterous way—thoughts and feelings which most of us are ashamed of as weaknesses, and which we keep to ourselves accordingly.

Valeria argues that Miserrimus Dexter merely voices the hidden fantasies that others suppress, albeit in an exaggerated manner.

_Valeria's rationalization of Dexter's behavior, defending him against charges of madness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxvi-more-of-my-obstinacy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters