# The Longestaffe Marriages explained — The Way We Live Now

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

## What happens

Georgiana Longestaffe, miserable over her sister Sophia's impending marriage to George Whitstable, quarrels with her family and threatens to write to Mr. Brehgert. Meanwhile, she has been secretly meeting the curate Mr. Batherbolt. On the morning of Sophia's wedding, Georgiana elopes with Mr. Batherbolt. The wedding proceeds, and Georgiana later returns as Mrs. Batherbolt, eventually moving to a living purchased by her father.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage as Financial Transaction

Sophia's marriage to George Whitstable is a triumph of social and financial security, while Georgiana's elopement with the impoverished curate Mr. Batherbolt is seen as a comedown, yet still 'decent' due to his clerical status.

### Family Obligation and Selfishness

Georgiana's rebellion against her family's expectations and her sister's triumph highlights the tension between individual desire and family duty; Lady Pomona and Sophia prioritize the Whitstable wedding over Georgiana's crisis.

### Gender and Power

Georgiana's limited options—marriage to a suitable man or social ruin—and her eventual elopement as a desperate act of agency reflect the powerlessness of women in Victorian society.

## Character check-ins

### Georgiana Longestaffe

Wretched and humiliated by her sister's marriage, she quarrels with her family, threatens to resume the Brehgert alliance, and ultimately elopes with Mr. Batherbolt.

### Lady Pomona Longestaffe

Struggles to manage Georgiana's ill-humour and the tension in the household; learns of Georgiana's walks with Mr. Batherbolt but postpones telling her husband.

### Sophia Longestaffe

Now proud and tyrannical in her engagement to George Whitstable; insists on returning Mr. Brehgert's watch and chain, and later ensures her own wedding proceeds despite Georgiana's elopement.

### George Whitstable

The bridegroom, petted and giving himself airs; entrusted with returning the watch and chain to Mr. Brehgert.

### Adolphus Longestaffe

Absent in London dealing with Melmotte's affairs; returns only on the eve of Sophia's wedding, bringing Dolly.

### Dolly Longestaffe

Attends his sister's wedding reluctantly, bringing a large china dog as a present; his money affairs are comfortably arranged.

## Key lines

> It was but the other day that she had looked down from a very great height on her elder sister, and had utterly despised the squire of Toodlam.

Not long ago, Georgiana had felt superior to her sister Sophia and had scorned George Whitstable.

_Highlights Georgiana's reversal of fortune and humiliation._

> I think Mr. Brehgert ought to have his watch and chain back.

Sophia insists that the watch and chain given by Mr. Brehgert should be returned.

_Illustrates the family's concern with propriety and severing ties with the unsuitable suitor._

> But at nine o’clock on the morning set apart for that marriage, they were all astounded by the news that Georgiana had run away with Mr. Batherbolt.

On the morning of Sophia's wedding, the family was shocked to learn that Georgiana had eloped with the curate.

_Climactic moment of the chapter, revealing Georgiana's secret rebellion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xcv-the-longestaffe-marriages
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters