# The Square explained — The Old Wives’ Tale

> Chapter companion for The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett.

## What happens

Constance and Sophia Baines observe their servant Maggie Hollins on her Thursday afternoon outing, mocking her new clothes and romantic rendezvous. Later, in the showroom, Sophia playfully tries on their mother's new gown, only to be interrupted by Mr. Povey, who enters in apparent pain. The chapter also reflects on the outdated fashions and provincial life of the era.

## Themes in this chapter

### Provincial Life vs. Worldly Experience

The girls' mockery of Maggie and their fascination with Paris fashions highlight the contrast between their insular Bursley life and the wider world.

### Female Identity and Independence

Sophia's defiant play-acting in her mother's gown and her haughty attitude reflect her budding sense of self and desire for autonomy.

### Social Class and Respectability

The Baines sisters' disdain for Maggie's new clothes and romantic life underscores class distinctions and the importance of respectability.

## Character check-ins

### Sophia Baines

Observes Maggie with derision, tries on her mother's gown, and is caught by Mr. Povey.

### Constance Baines

Watches Maggie with mixed pity and amusement, helps Sophia after her fall, and shows concern for their mother's dress.

### Maggie Hollins

The Baines' servant, seen in new clothes meeting a man in the Square; has been engaged eleven times.

### Samuel Povey

Enters the showroom groaning in pain, then pretends to be a casual passerby; the reliable shop assistant.

### Mrs. Baines

Mentioned as the mother, whose new gown Sophia tries on; her authority and presence are felt even in her empty garments.

## Key lines

> There she goes! exclaimed Sophia. Up the Square, from the corner of King Street, passed a woman in a new bonnet with pink strings, and a new blue dress that sloped at the shoulders and grew to a vast circumference at the hem.

Sophia points out Maggie walking across the Square in a new bonnet and dress.

_Introduces Maggie's outing and the sisters' observation._

> She was as tall as her mother, and as imperious, as crested, and proud; and in spite of the pigtail, the girlish semicircular comb, and the loose foal-like limbs, she could support as well as her mother the majesty of the gimp-embroidered dress.

Sophia, wearing her mother's gown, looks just as commanding and proud as Mrs. Baines.

_Highlights Sophia's youthful arrogance and resemblance to her mother._

> The crinoline had not quite reached its full circumference, and the dress-improver had not even been thought of. In all the Five Towns there was not a public bath, nor a free library, nor a municipal park, nor a telephone, nor yet a board-school.

The era was backward: crinolines were still evolving, and the Five Towns lacked basic amenities like baths, libraries, parks, telephones, and schools.

_Provides historical context about the primitive conditions of the time._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-square
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters