# XXII: The Oracle Warns—After the Event explained — The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane

> Chapter companion for The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane by Mark Rutherford.

## What happens

George Allen marries Priscilla Broad and moves into a cottage. The chapter explores their early married life, George's political enthusiasm for Free Trade, and his attempts to explain economic principles to Priscilla, who fails to grasp them. It also depicts a sleepless night when George's mother comforts him, and a domestic crisis when a storm floods their home due to a blocked pipe.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

George and Priscilla's marriage is depicted with initial bliss but growing strain due to intellectual incompatibility and family interference.

### Political Reform and Revolution

George's ardent Free Trade advocacy and the conflict with Protectionist farmers highlight the political tensions of the era.

### The Role of Women

Priscilla's inability to engage with political ideas and her focus on domestic trivialities reflect contemporary gender expectations.

## Character check-ins

### George Allen

Marries Priscilla, struggles to explain Free Trade to her, experiences a sleepless night of distress, and handles the flooding crisis.

### Priscilla Broad

Now George's wife, she is cheerful but intellectually limited, misunderstanding George's political arguments and offering impractical domestic plans.

### Mrs. Allen

George's mother, who worries about his marriage, comforts him during his sleepless night, and prays fervently for him.

### Mr. Isaac Allen

George's father, who debates with Mrs. Allen about the marriage and is a Protectionist farmer.

### Ellen

The servant who alerts George to the flooding in the cottage.

## Key lines

> Every weakness in her was translated by George into some particularly attractive virtue.

George saw all of Priscilla's flaws as charming qualities.

_Highlights George's idealization of Priscilla early in their marriage._

> The great thing is not to have a fool for a wife.

The most important thing is to avoid marrying a foolish woman.

_Mrs. Allen's veiled warning to George about Priscilla's intelligence._

> What an epoch is the first sleepless night—the night when the first wrench has been given us by the Destinies to loosen us from the love of life; when we have first said to ourselves that there are worse things than death!

The first night of insomnia marks a turning point where one begins to question the value of life itself.

_Reflects George's growing despair and disillusionment._

> For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and cleave to his wife? Ah, yes! he does leave them; but in his heart does he never go back? And if he never does, does his mother ever leave him?

A man may leave his parents for his wife, but he often returns to them in his heart, and his mother never truly leaves him.

_Explores the enduring bond between mother and son despite marriage._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters/xxii-the-oracle-warns-after-the-event
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_revolution_in_tanner_s_lane_se/chapters