Lovesick explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Social Mobility and Class

  Roger's old-fashioned gentility clashes with Lady Carbury's willingness to embrace the nouveau riche Melmottes for financial gain.

• Marriage as Financial Transaction

  Lady Carbury views Felix's potential marriage to Marie Melmotte as a purely financial transaction, ignoring Melmotte's disrepute.

• Love vs. Practicality

  Roger's deep, selfless love for Hetta contrasts with the pragmatic fortune-hunting marriage schemes of Lady Carbury.

Characters to notice

• Roger Carbury

  Confronts Henrietta about the Melmotte association, expresses his old-fashioned values, and agonizes over his unrequited love for her.

• Hetta Carbury

  Defends her mother's choices and resents Roger's implication that she lacks judgment about the Melmottes.

• Lady Carbury

  Discussed as blindly indulging Felix and pursuing the Melmotte fortune despite the man's reputation.

• Sir Felix Carbury

  Described as having 'grovelled in the gutters' and being a potential professional gambler.

• Augustus Melmotte

  Characterized as a gigantic swindler whose house Roger considers disgraceful.

• Paul Montague

  Mentioned as the younger man whom Roger fears Hetta loves, and whom Roger may never forgive.

Key passages

• “To Lady Carbury the prospect of a union between her son and Miss Melmotte was one of unmixed joy and triumph.”

  Lady Carbury sees Felix marrying Marie Melmotte as a pure triumph, ignoring any moral concerns.

  Highlights the theme of marriage as a financial transaction.

• “The old-fashioned idea that the touching of pitch will defile still prevailed with him.”

  Roger still believes that associating with dishonorable people will corrupt you.

  Illustrates Roger's traditional moral stance.

• “He felt almost sure in his heart of hearts that the girl loved that other, younger man.”

  Roger suspects that Hetta is in love with Paul Montague.

  Central to Roger's internal conflict and the love triangle.