The Way We Live Now · Chapter
LXXXII: Marie's Perseverance explained
Marie Melmotte, determined to revive her engagement with Sir Felix Carbury despite her father's ruin, visits Lady Carbury's home.
What happens
Marie Melmotte, determined to revive her engagement with Sir Felix Carbury despite her father's ruin, visits Lady Carbury's home. Lady Carbury, torn between the potential financial security of the match and the disgrace of the Melmottes, conveys Sir Felix's refusal to see her. Marie leaves humiliated but resolute. Meanwhile, Melmotte confronts his clerk Croll, who returns forged documents from Brehgert, revealing that the forgery has been discovered but not yet exposed.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage as Financial Transaction
Lady Carbury weighs the suitability of Marie's marriage to Sir Felix based on the potential fortune, despite the Melmottes' disgrace.
Deception and Hypocrisy
Melmotte's forgery is discovered by Croll and Brehgert, yet they return the documents without immediate exposure, highlighting the hypocrisy and concealment in high society.
Characters to notice
- Marie Melmotte
Visits Lady Carbury to renew her engagement with Sir Felix, insisting on her love and the security of her fortune despite her father's ruin.
- Lady Carbury
Receives Marie and struggles with the decision of whether to encourage the match, torn between her son's disgrace and the potential financial gain.
- Sir Felix Carbury
Refuses to see Marie, ashamed of his facial injuries and skeptical about her fortune, preferring to avoid the immediate nuisance of a scene.
- Augustus Melmotte
Confronts his clerk Croll, who returns forged documents from Brehgert, revealing that his forgery has been discovered but not yet exposed.
- Herr Croll
Returns the forged documents to Melmotte, having discovered the forgery with Brehgert, but does not threaten his master.
Key passages
“I don't see why a girl should not run after a man if they have been engaged together.”
Marie defends her bold pursuit of Sir Felix, arguing that prior engagement justifies her forwardness.
Marie challenges Victorian gender norms by asserting a woman's right to actively seek a partner.
“It seemed to her at the moment that this young lady, knowing that her own father was ruined, was looking out for another home, and was doing so with a considerable amount of audacity.”
Lady Carbury suspects Marie is opportunistically seeking a new home after her father's ruin, viewing her actions as audacious.
Highlights Lady Carbury's pragmatic and cynical view of marriage as a financial arrangement.