XXIX explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Selfishness and Spoiling

  Victor's selfishness is attributed to his mother and sisters spoiling him, never giving him a chance to be otherwise.

• Family Sacrifice and Duty

  Maggie broke her engagement to care for Victor, and the family's resources were always spent on him, illustrating the theme of familial duty over personal happiness.

• Unfulfilled Love and Marriage

  Victor's lingering feelings for Lucy Hawthorn and his never marrying, along with Maggie's broken engagement, highlight the theme of unfulfilled love.

Characters to notice

• Victor Campion

  Victor is seen as a spoiled, aging bachelor who finds comfort and renewal in his sister's devoted care, contrasting with his social awkwardness.

• Maggie Campion

  Maggie is portrayed as the devoted sister who sacrificed her own happiness to care for Victor, watering plants and preparing his breakfast with love.

• Fannie Page

  Fannie, now a grandmother, reflects on the Campions' past and feels pity for Victor and his sisters, while enjoying her own comfortable family life.

• Prentice Page

  Prentice, Fannie's husband, offers a blunt assessment of Victor's character, attributing his selfishness to his upbringing.

• Lucy Hawthorn

  Lucy is mentioned as the woman Victor was once 'cut up over,' representing his unfulfilled love.

Key passages

• “Maggie never said so, but everyone knew she broke her engagement so she could stay and take care of him; and they never could go anywhere or have pretty clothes or anything, because everything had to be spent on Victor.”

  Maggie silently sacrificed her engagement and personal desires to care for Victor, and the family's resources were always directed toward him.

  This highlights the theme of family sacrifice and duty.

• “You can't exactly blame him for being selfish, they never gave him a chance to be anything else.”

  Victor's selfishness is a result of his upbringing, as he was never given the opportunity to develop unselfishness.

  This reflects the theme of selfishness and spoiling.

• “But at home again, where all things—the burning lamp, the doughnuts and milk waiting under a napkin on the hall table, his turned-back bed, light, and food, and rest—were symbols of love for him, he revived, he grew happy again.”

  Victor finds comfort and happiness in the loving home environment created by Maggie, which revives his spirits.

  This illustrates the theme of family sacrifice and the comfort of home.