The Return of the Native · Chapter
IX: Love Leads a Shrewd Man Into Strategy explained
Diggory Venn, the reddleman, spies on Eustacia Vye and Damon Wildeve meeting on Rainbarrow, suspecting Eustacia of interfering with Thomasin's marriage.
What happens
Diggory Venn, the reddleman, spies on Eustacia Vye and Damon Wildeve meeting on Rainbarrow, suspecting Eustacia of interfering with Thomasin's marriage. He overhears their tense conversation about love and marriage, and resolves to act against Eustacia.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The chapter explores the complications of love and marriage through the triangle of Eustacia, Wildeve, and Thomasin, and Venn's protective love for Thomasin.
Isolation and Loneliness
Venn's solitary life as a reddleman and the desolate setting of the heath underscore the characters' emotional isolation.
Characters to notice
- Diggory Venn
The reddleman, acting out of love for Thomasin, spies on Eustacia and Wildeve, hiding under turves to overhear their conversation.
- Eustacia Vye
Meets Wildeve on Rainbarrow; expresses anger and despair over his wavering affections and his consideration of marrying Thomasin.
- Damon Wildeve
Trysts with Eustacia, revealing his indecision between her and Thomasin; suggests they could go to America together.
- Thomasin Yeobright
Referenced in the letter Venn reads and in the conversation; her marriage prospects are the central concern of Venn's actions.
Key passages
“The reddleman’s love was generous. His first active step in watching over Thomasin’s interests was taken about seven o’clock the next evening, and was dictated by the news which he had learnt from the sad boy.”
Venn's selfless affection for Thomasin led him to begin protecting her interests the following evening, motivated by what the distressed boy had told him.
Highlights Venn's altruistic motives and his strategic move to spy on Eustacia.
“He had stood in the shoes of Tantalus, and seemed to look upon a certain mass of disappointment as the natural preface to all realizations, without which preface they would give cause for alarm.”
Venn, like Tantalus, expected disappointment as a necessary precursor to any success, believing that without it, success would be alarming.
Illustrates Venn's philosophical acceptance of hardship as a prelude to achievement.
“The reddleman, stung with suspicion of wrong to Thomasin, was aroused to strategy in a moment.”
Driven by suspicion that Thomasin was being wronged, Venn quickly devised a plan.
Shows Venn's quick thinking and protective instincts.
“God, how lonely it is! ... What are picturesque ravines and mists to us who see nothing else? Why should we stay here? Will you go with me to America? I have kindred in Wisconsin.”
Wildeve laments the oppressive loneliness of the heath and proposes to Eustacia that they emigrate to America, where he has relatives in Wisconsin.
Reveals Wildeve's desire to escape the heath and his offer of a new life with Eustacia.