# Miss Marrable explained — The Vicar of Bullhampton

> Chapter companion for The Vicar of Bullhampton by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Mary Lowther returns to her aunt Miss Marrable in Loring, where her aunt strongly advocates for a marriage to Mr. Gilmore, a country gentleman she deems suitable. Mary expresses weariness with the topic and insists she will never marry Gilmore. The chapter also provides a detailed portrait of Miss Marrable's character, her strict views on social rank and gentility, and a description of Loring's social geography.

## Themes in this chapter

### Class and Social Power

Miss Marrable's rigid views on social rank, her disdain for trade and commerce, and her preference for Mary marrying a country gentleman illustrate the class distinctions of the era.

### Love and Marriage

The chapter centers on Mary's resistance to marrying Mr. Gilmore despite family pressure, highlighting the tension between personal choice and societal expectations in marriage.

## Character check-ins

### Mary Lowther

Returns to her aunt Miss Marrable in Loring; expresses weariness with Mr. Gilmore and insists she will never marry him.

### Miss Marrable

Mary's aunt, a strong advocate for Mr. Gilmore; holds strict views on social rank and gentility; lives modestly in Botolph Lane, Loring.

### Harry Gilmore

Discussed as a suitor; Miss Marrable considers him an ideal match due to his status as a country gentleman.

### Janet Fenwick

Mentioned as having written letters praising Mr. Gilmore and believing Mary will marry him.

### Mr. Fenwick

Referenced as the parson at Bullhampton who joked with Mary about Loring's parliamentary representation.

## Key lines

> She would have infinitely preferred to see Mary an old maid, than to hear that she was going to give herself to any suitor contaminated by trade.

Miss Marrable would rather Mary remain unmarried than marry someone involved in commerce.

_Reflects Miss Marrable's strong class prejudices against trade._

> I am so weary of Mr. Gilmore.

Mary is tired of hearing about Mr. Gilmore.

_Shows Mary's frustration with the constant pressure to marry Gilmore._

> Rank to her was a thing quite assured and ascertained, and she had no more doubt as to her own right to pass out of a room before the wife of a millionaire than she had of the right of a millionaire to spend his own guineas.

Miss Marrable was completely certain of her own social rank and her precedence over wealthy individuals not of gentle birth.

_Illustrates Miss Marrable's unwavering belief in inherited social hierarchy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters/ix-miss-marrable
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters