# The Miller explained — The Vicar of Bullhampton

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

## What happens

Mr. Fenwick visits Brattle's mill, reflecting on his past relationship with Sam Brattle and the miller's difficult character. The chapter delves into Jacob Brattle's history, his bitter feud with his landlord Harry Gilmore over repairs, his deep love for his wife, and the family's sorrow over their fallen daughter Carry, whom he refuses to mention.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Duty and Forgiveness

The Brattle family is torn by Carry's fall; the miller's inability to forgive or mention her contrasts with his wife's daily prayers.

### Class and Social Power

The landlord-tenant conflict between Gilmore and Brattle highlights power imbalances and the miller's sense of injustice.

### Hypocrisy and Moral Courage

Mr. Fenwick's role in spoiling Sam Brattle and the miller's self-despising vengeance reveal moral complexities.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Fenwick

Visits the mill, reflecting on his role in Sam Brattle's development and the miller's grievances.

### Sam Brattle

Mentioned as a former favorite of Mr. Fenwick, now idle and disobedient, causing trouble for the family.

### George Brattle

The miller, a hardworking but bitter and litigious man, brooding over past injuries and his daughter Carry's fate.

### Mrs. Brattle

Described as a loving, patient, self-denying woman, deeply loved by her husband, who prays daily for Carry.

### Fanny Brattle

The second daughter at home, a plain but sweet-natured girl loved by all in Bullhampton.

### Carry Brattle

The fallen daughter, once her father's darling, now never mentioned but constantly on his mind.

## Key lines

> He was a man with an unlimited love of justice; but the justice which he loved best was justice to himself.

He professed a strong sense of justice, but it was primarily self-serving.

_Describes the miller's hypocritical nature._

> She was such a morsel of fruit as men do choose, when allowed to range and pick through the whole length of the garden wall.

Carry was exceptionally beautiful and desirable, unlike her plain sister Fanny.

_Contrasts Carry's beauty with Fanny's plainness._

> Nothing could lighten it;—not though an angel could come and tell him that his girl was a second Magdalen.

Even divine assurance of his daughter's redemption would not ease his burden.

_Highlights the miller's deep, unrelenting grief over Carry._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters/v-the-miller
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters