# Trotter's Buildings explained — The Vicar of Bullhampton

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

## What happens

Mr. Fenwick finds Carry Brattle at Mrs. Stiggs's house in Trotter's Buildings, Salisbury, where Sam had left her after a fight at the Three Honest Men. Fenwick promises to help her and decides to drive to Startup Farm to ask her brother George Brattle to take her in, despite his doubts about George's charity.

## Themes in this chapter

### Redemption and the Fallen Woman

Mr. Fenwick's tender treatment of Carry Brattle and his desire to find her a loving home reflect the theme of redemption for a 'fallen woman'.

### Family Duty and Forgiveness

Fenwick's mission to persuade George Brattle to take in his sister Carry highlights the tension between family duty and the reluctance to forgive.

### Hypocrisy and Moral Courage

Fenwick's internal conflict about his own tender feelings toward Carry versus the harsh moral standards of society illustrates the theme of moral courage versus hypocrisy.

## Character check-ins

### Carry Brattle

Found by Mr. Fenwick at Mrs. Stiggs's house; she is pale and tearful, having been turned away from the Three Honest Men after a fight involving Sam.

### Mr. Fenwick

Visits Carry in Trotter's Buildings, promises to help her, and decides to drive to Startup Farm to persuade George Brattle to take her in.

### Sam Brattle

Left Carry at Mrs. Stiggs's after a fight at the Three Honest Men; he is bruised and avoids being seen by Mr. Fenwick.

### George Brattle

Carry's prosperous elder brother; Mr. Fenwick plans to visit him at Startup Farm to ask him to take Carry in.

### Mrs. Stiggs

Landlady of the house in Trotter's Buildings where Carry is staying; her child was on the lookout for Mr. Fenwick.

## Key lines

> I thought that you would come to me, sir, said Carry Brattle. Of course I should come. Did I not promise that I would come?

Carry expected Mr. Fenwick to visit her, and he confirms that he kept his promise.

_Shows Carry's trust in Fenwick's promise and his commitment to her._

> He had asked her what she would do! But had she not come there, at her brother's instigation, that he might tell her what she should do?

Fenwick asks Carry for her plans, but she relies on him to guide her, as Sam had arranged.

_Highlights Carry's dependence on Fenwick for direction._

> He was very tender with her, and treated her not at all as he would have done an ugly young parishioner who had turned thief upon his hands.

Fenwick shows special kindness to Carry because of her beauty and his past affection for her, unlike how he would treat a less attractive sinner.

_Reveals Fenwick's partiality and emotional involvement._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters/xl-trotter-s-buildings
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicar_of_bullhampton_se/chapters