# XIII: I Continue My Career as a Man of Fashion explained — The Luck of Barry Lyndon

> Chapter companion for The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray.

## What happens

Barry becomes a regular in Sir Charles Lyndon's household, ingratiating himself with Lady Lyndon through theological debates and persistent courtship, while Sir Charles mockingly warns him of the miseries of marrying for wealth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage as Transaction

Sir Charles Lyndon's warning to Barry about marrying for wealth and the misery it brings highlights the transactional and often unhappy nature of such unions.

### Social Climbing and Ambition

Barry's relentless pursuit of Lady Lyndon, despite her husband's presence and society's scorn, exemplifies his ambition to rise through marriage.

### Deception and Self-Delusion

Barry alters his story to impress Lady Lyndon, and both he and Sir Charles engage in self-serving narratives about their motives and fates.

## Character check-ins

### Barry Lyndon

Continues his pursuit of Lady Lyndon, using persistence and daring as his strategy, and engages in theological arguments to gain access to her.

### Sir Charles Lyndon

A dying, gout-ridden man who cynically warns Barry about the misery of marrying Lady Lyndon, yet tolerates Barry's courtship with sardonic humor.

### Lady Lyndon

A learned bluestocking who enjoys theological disputes and flattery, and begins to accept Barry's attentions, allowing him into her carriage and correspondence.

### Rev. Mr. Runt

Lady Lyndon's chaplain and governor to young Lord Bullingdon, who initially debates transubstantiation with Barry before Lady Lyndon takes over.

### Lord Bullingdon

The melancholy, neglected son of Sir Charles and Lady Lyndon, seen only briefly at his mother's levée for Latin and history questions.

## Key lines

> fact is, seeing him in the condition in which he was, I could not help speculating upon the chance a man of spirit might have with his widow.

Observing Sir Charles's poor health, Barry began to consider the possibility of marrying his widow.

_Barry's opportunistic thoughts about Lady Lyndon after seeing her husband's decline._

> Dare, and the world always yields: or, if it beat you sometimes, dare again, and it will succumb.

If you are bold and persistent, you will eventually succeed, even after initial failures.

_Barry's personal maxim for achieving his goals through relentless daring._

> The man who gets her will rue it, take my word on’t.

Whoever marries her will regret it, I assure you.

_Sir Charles Lyndon's warning to Barry about the unhappiness of marrying Lady Lyndon._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_luck_of_barry_lyndon_se/chapters/xiii-i-continue-my-career-as-a-man-of-fashion
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