The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane · Chapter
V: The Horizon Widens explained
This chapter introduces Jean Caillaud and his daughter Pauline, French immigrants living in a cramped London court.
What happens
This chapter introduces Jean Caillaud and his daughter Pauline, French immigrants living in a cramped London court. Jean is a shoemaker and a member of the Society of the Friends of the People, working closely with Major Maitland. Pauline is intelligent, vivacious, and well-read, sharing her father's revolutionary ideas and skepticism toward organized religion. Zachariah Coleman visits their home after a meeting and is struck by Pauline's liveliness and intellect, a stark contrast to the pious, constrained women of his own Calvinist circle. He becomes increasingly preoccupied with her image, even during family worship. Meanwhile, his wife notices his distraction and suggests trying to convert the Major to their chapel.
Themes in this chapter
Political Reform and Revolution
Jean Caillaud and the Major are active in the Friends of the People, a radical society; their revolutionary sympathies contrast with the official celebrations of peace and monarchy.
Religion and Hypocrisy
Zachariah's Calvinist piety is undermined by his attraction to Pauline, while his wife's concern for the Major's soul is tinged with social propriety rather than genuine evangelism.
The Role of Women
Pauline's intellectual equality with men and her lively temperament stand in stark contrast to the constrained, domestic piety expected of women in Zachariah's Dissenting community.
Characters to notice
- Jean Caillaud
French shoemaker and revolutionary, member of the Friends of the People, living with his daughter Pauline in Kent's Court.
- Pauline
Jean's daughter, intelligent and vivacious, shares her father's political and religious views, and captivates Zachariah with her intellect and demeanor.
- Zachariah Coleman
Visits the Caillauds for the first time, is impressed and disturbed by Pauline's liveliness, and struggles with his attraction to her.
- Mrs. Coleman
Zachariah's wife, pious and cold, notices his absence from prayer meeting and suggests converting the Major.
- Major Maitland
Friend of Jean Caillaud and member of the secret committee of the Friends of the People; mentioned as a potential convert by Mrs. Coleman.
- Mrs. Carver
A member of the Pike Street congregation who offers to accompany Mrs. Coleman home, highlighting the social dynamics of the chapel.
Key passages
“She had an intellect, and it was one which sought for constant expression; consequently she was never dull. If she was dull, she was ill.”
Pauline's mind was always active and eager to communicate; she was never boring unless she was unwell.
Highlights Pauline's intellectual vitality as a defining trait.
“It was the first time he had ever been in the company of a woman of any liveliness of temperament, and with an intellect which was on equal terms with that of a man.”
Zachariah had never before met a woman who was both spirited and intellectually his equal.
Emphasizes the transformative impact of Pauline on Zachariah's worldview.
“Do what he might, her image was forever before his eyes, and reconstructed itself after every attempt to abolish it, just as a reflected image in a pool slowly but inevitably gathers itself together again after each disturbance of the water.”
No matter how hard he tried, he could not stop picturing Pauline; her image kept returning like a reflection reforming on a disturbed pond.
Illustrates Zachariah's obsessive attraction and inner conflict.
