# Miss Melmotte Declares Her Purpose explained — The Way We Live Now

> Chapter companion for The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope.

## What happens

Hetta Carbury, reeling from the revelation of Paul Montague's engagement to Mrs. Hurtle, visits Marie Melmotte to deliver her brother Felix's message that their engagement is over. Despite Marie's desperate declarations of love and willingness to elope, Hetta confirms that Felix will not pursue her. Meanwhile, Melmotte, suspicious and paranoid, oversees the dismantling of his Grosvenor Square decorations and prepares to take his seat in Parliament.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage as Financial Transaction

Marie's insistence that she can provide for Felix through her own fortune underscores the transactional nature of their relationship, while Hetta's mention of Felix's lack of income reinforces the economic calculus behind marriage.

### Deception and Hypocrisy

Melmotte, a lifelong deceiver, expresses shock at Felix's duplicity, while Hetta grapples with Paul Montague's hidden engagement, highlighting the pervasive dishonesty among the characters.

### Gender and Power

Marie's defiance of her father's physical abuse and her determination to choose her own husband challenge Victorian gender norms, while Hetta's submissive silence in the face of Melmotte's interrogation reflects women's limited agency.

## Character check-ins

### Hetta Carbury

Suffering from the shock of Paul Montague's betrayal, she reluctantly delivers her brother's rejection to Marie Melmotte, showing compassion despite her own distress.

### Marie Melmotte

Desperate and defiant, she confesses her love for Felix and her willingness to risk everything, revealing her abusive home life and her determination to control her own fate.

### Augustus Melmotte

Suspicious and controlling, he interrogates Hetta and oversees the dismantling of his Grosvenor Square decorations, determined to maintain his parliamentary position despite his crumbling empire.

### Lady Carbury

Reluctantly permits Hetta to visit Marie, having lost faith in the Melmotte marriage as a viable prospect for Felix.

### Sir Felix Carbury

Absent but central; his rejection of Marie is conveyed through Hetta, confirming the end of their engagement.

## Key lines

> The man had come to her, and had asked her to be his wife⁠—and yet at that very moment was living in habits of daily intercourse with another woman whom he had promised to marry!

Hetta is horrified that Paul Montague proposed to her while maintaining a daily relationship with another woman he had promised to wed.

_Highlights Hetta's shock and the theme of deception._

> I wonder whether that is true. Because, you know, there has been a deal of falsehood and double dealing. Sir Felix has behaved infamously; yes⁠—by G⁠⸺, infamously.

Melmotte expresses suspicion of Hetta's motives, accusing Sir Felix of outrageous dishonesty.

_Illustrates Melmotte's hypocrisy and paranoid nature._

> He beats me sometimes. But I never will yield a bit for that. When he boxes and thumps me I always turn and gnash my teeth at him.

Marie reveals that her father physically abuses her, but she refuses to submit, defiantly resisting his violence.

_Reveals the abusive dynamic and Marie's resilience._

## Links

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