The Vicar of Bullhampton · Chapter
The Three Honest Men explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Fenwick receives a letter from Sam Brattle informing him that Carry is at the Three Honest Men public house in Salisbury, awaiting the home Fenwick promised. Despite his wife's doubts about finding a suitable place, Fenwick travels to Salisbury, only to find that Carry and Sam have been turned out by the drunken landlady. A child then leads him to Mrs. Stiggs's house, where Carry has taken shelter.
Themes in this chapter
Redemption and the Fallen Woman
The chapter centers on Fenwick's efforts to find a home for Carry Brattle, a 'fallen woman,' highlighting the societal and personal challenges of offering redemption.
Hypocrisy and Moral Courage
The drunken landlady of the Three Honest Men displays hypocritical outrage at Carry's sin, while Fenwick shows moral courage in seeking to help her despite public scorn.
Family Duty and Forgiveness
Fenwick considers forcing Carry on her father's heart and approaching her brother George, exploring the limits of family duty and forgiveness.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Fenwick
The Vicar of Bullhampton, imprudent but conscientious, who travels to Salisbury to fulfill his promise to find a home for Carry Brattle.
- Carry Brattle
The fallen woman who has been staying at the Three Honest Men with her brother Sam, but has been turned out and now shelters at Mrs. Stiggs's.
- Sam Brattle
Carry's brother, who wrote to Fenwick from Salisbury demanding the promised home and warning about an unpaid bill.
- Janet Fenwick
Fenwick's wife, who scolds him for his promise but ultimately discusses the difficulty of finding a home for Carry.
- George Brattle
Carry's eldest brother, a prosperous farmer near Fordingbridge, whom Fenwick considers approaching for help.
- Mrs. Stiggs
The woman at whose house Carry has found shelter after being turned out of the Three Honest Men.
Key passages
“The Vicar of Bullhampton was—a 'good sort of fellow.' In praise of him to this extent it is hoped that the reader will cordially agree. But it cannot be denied that he was the most imprudent of men.”
The Vicar is generally a good man, but he is also very imprudent in his actions.
Introduces Fenwick's character as well-meaning but rash.
“He had done very much that was imprudent in respect to the Marquis of Trowbridge; and since he had been at Bullhampton had been imprudent in nearly everything that he had done regarding the Brattles.”
Fenwick's imprudence has caused trouble with both the Marquis and the Brattle family.
Summarizes Fenwick's ongoing conflicts.
“Sam, in his letter, had gone on to explain that it would be well that Mr. Fenwick should visit the Three Honest Men speedily, as otherwise there would be a bill there which neither Carry nor Sam would be able to defray.”
Sam warned Fenwick to come quickly or face an unpaid bill.
Highlights the financial pressure on Fenwick.
“The properest place for her would be in the country, on some farm; and, so thinking, he determined to apply to the girl's eldest brother.”
Fenwick decides that a farm would be best for Carry and plans to ask her brother George for help.
Shows Fenwick's practical thinking about Carry's future.
“It was a brick building of two stories, with a door in the middle of it which stood open, and a red curtain hanging across the window on the left-hand side.”
The Three Honest Men was a small, disreputable-looking brick building with a red curtain in the window.
Describes the seedy appearance of the pub.
“Then were let loose against the unfortunate clergyman the floodgates of a drunken woman's angry tongue.”
The drunken landlady unleashed a torrent of abuse at Fenwick.
Illustrates the hostility Fenwick faces.
