The Perennial Bachelor · Chapter
XXII explained
Maggie feels an unexpected surge of springtime joy and high spirits, bursting with energy and a desire for fun.
What happens
Maggie feels an unexpected surge of springtime joy and high spirits, bursting with energy and a desire for fun. She prepares for a wedding in Wilmington with her sisters May and Lily, who struggle with their too-tight dresses and elaborate bustles. The sisters travel to the wedding, enjoy the ceremony and reception, but Maggie's gaiety fades when she sees Edward with another woman, realizing she must finally let go of her long-held hope for him.
Themes in this chapter
Unfulfilled Love and Marriage
Maggie's joy at the wedding is undercut by her unrequited love for Edward, culminating in her painful acceptance that he will never be with her.
The Passage of Time
Maggie reflects on her age and the years that have passed, feeling a rare burst of youthful energy that contrasts with her usual resignation.
Characters to notice
- Maggie Campion
Feels uncharacteristically lighthearted and joyful in the spring, sings and dances, but later experiences a painful realization about Edward.
- Lily Campion
Struggles with her too-tight dress and worries about her appearance, but is excited about the wedding.
- Victor Campion
Serves as an usher at the wedding, looking handsome in his slightly-too-big coat.
- Edward Post
Present at the wedding with another woman, causing Maggie to finally accept that he will never be hers.
Key passages
“Ridiculous to feel positively lightheaded with high spirits when one is in the middle thirties—Maggie couldn’t understand it.”
Maggie feels absurdly giddy and happy for no clear reason, especially for a woman in her mid-thirties.
Highlights Maggie's unexpected emotional state and her awareness of her age.
“She felt as if she were bleeding to death. She had never really said goodbye in her heart to Edward. But now she knew that the footsteps she had listened to for so long would never reach her.”
Maggie experiences a profound emotional wound, finally accepting that Edward will never come to her.
Captures the moment of heartbreak and closure for Maggie's unrequited love.