# Chapter XXIX explained — The Mysteries of Udolpho

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

## What happens

Emily watches over the dying Madame Montoni, who refuses to sign over her estates to Montoni. Later, Emily observes a mysterious flame on the rampart and speaks with a soldier who explains it as an omen. During a violent storm, Madame Montoni dies, and Emily performs the last rites with Annette.

## Themes in this chapter

### Oppression and Imprisonment

Montoni's relentless pressure on his dying wife to sign over her estates exemplifies domestic tyranny and imprisonment.

### Grief and Melancholy

Emily's vigil and the death of Madame Montoni evoke deep sorrow and the solemnity of loss.

### The Supernatural and the Unknown

The mysterious flame on the lance and the soldier's interpretation as an omen heighten the Gothic atmosphere.

## Character check-ins

### Emily St. Aubert

Nurses her dying aunt, confronts Montoni, and watches for the mysterious figure.

### Madame Montoni

On her deathbed, she resists Montoni's demands and gives Emily instructions about her estates.

### Montoni

Visits his dying wife to pressure her into signing over her estates, showing his inhumanity.

### Annette

Terrified by the storm, she informs Emily of Madame Montoni's death.

## Key lines

> This was a scene, that exhibited, on his part, his usual inhumanity, and, on that of Madame Montoni, a persevering spirit, contending with a feeble frame; while Emily repeatedly declared to him her willingness to resign all claim to those estates, rather than that the last hours of her aunt should be disturbed by contention.

Montoni showed his usual cruelty, while Madame Montoni fought weakly but stubbornly; Emily offered to give up her inheritance to spare her aunt further distress.

_Highlights Montoni's cruelty and Emily's selflessness._

> Emily, looking again upon the rampart, perceived the flame she had seen before; it moved onward; and, soon after, she thought she heard a footstep.

Emily saw the same flickering light on the rampart and thought she heard footsteps.

_Builds suspense around the mysterious flame._

> When Emily perceived, that all her efforts were ineffectual, she interrogated the terrified Annette, and learned, that Madame Montoni had fallen into a doze soon after Emily’s departure, in which she had continued, until a few minutes before her death.

Realizing her efforts were useless, Emily asked the frightened Annette, who said Madame Montoni had dozed off after Emily left and only woke shortly before dying.

_Reveals the quiet, sudden nature of Madame Montoni's death._

## Links

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