# Chapter XX explained — The Mysteries of Udolpho

> Chapter companion for The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe.

## What happens

Emily attempts to counsel her aunt Madame Montoni against provoking her husband, but is met with scorn and accusations of insensibility. She reflects on Montoni's ruined fortunes, his schemes to force his wife to sign away her settlements, and the hints dropped by Count Morano about Montoni's dark past. After a failed attempt to distract herself with Ariosto and music, Emily observes strange, fierce-looking men arriving at the castle. Montoni investigates the betrayal of the castle keys, and Emily witnesses a bitter dispute between Montoni and his wife before being ordered away. Later, Madame Montoni vents her grievances to Emily, who urges prudence but is rebuffed.

## Themes in this chapter

### Oppression and Imprisonment

Madame Montoni is trapped in a violent marriage, threatened with force to sign away her settlements, and Emily feels imprisoned in the castle under Montoni's power.

### Female Agency and Vulnerability

Emily's attempts at prudent counsel are dismissed; Madame Montoni's defiant stance is undercut by her helplessness; both women are subject to Montoni's tyranny.

### Avarice and Corruption

Montoni's financial ruin, his schemes to seize his wife's settlements, and the hints of murder and bribery underscore his moral corruption.

## Character check-ins

### Emily St. Aubert

Tries to counsel her aunt with prudence; reflects on Montoni's character and her own peril; sketches the banditti-like strangers.

### Madame Montoni

Vehemently refuses to sign away her settlements; accuses Emily of lacking feeling; engages in a high dispute with Montoni.

### Montoni

Orders Emily from the room in anger; investigates the betrayal of the castle keys; presses his wife to sign away her settlements.

### Annette

Looks cautiously for Emily on the rampart and approaches her.

### Old Carlo

Serves refreshments to the strangers and is ordered to identify the servant who gave the keys to Morano; hesitates to betray a fellow servant.

### Barnardine

The porter accused of conspiring with Count Morano; denies the accusation with a steady countenance and escapes detection.

## Key lines

> Your reproaches, however just, cannot punish him, but they may provoke him to further violence against you.

Even if your criticisms are deserved, they won't hurt him—they'll only make him treat you worse.

_Emily warns her aunt that confronting Montoni will escalate his cruelty._

> I am shocked by what you tell me, madam.

What you've said horrifies me.

_Emily reacts to the revelation of Montoni's debts and ruined fortunes._

> You spoke of reproaching the Signor,—said Emily, with hesitation.

Emily hesitantly reminded her aunt that she had mentioned confronting Montoni.

_Emily cautiously questions her aunt's plan to reproach Montoni._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mysteries_of_udolpho_se/chapters/xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mysteries_of_udolpho_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mysteries_of_udolpho_se/chapters