# Miss Melmotte's Courage explained — The Way We Live Now

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

## What happens

Sir Felix receives a letter from Marie proposing they elope and claim the money settled on her, which he finds both shocking and appealing. Lady Carbury urges him to run away with Marie, arguing that Melmotte will eventually forgive them. Sir Felix visits Grosvenor Square, where he encounters Melmotte, Lord Nidderdale, and the Marquis of Auld Reekie. After the men leave, Marie defiantly declares her love for Felix in front of her mother, refusing to marry Nidderdale and daring her father's wrath.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage as Financial Transaction

Marie's proposal to elope and claim her settlement frames marriage as a means to seize wealth, while Lady Carbury urges Felix to run away with Marie for her fortune.

### Deception and Hypocrisy

Felix contemplates cheating at cards and is attracted to Marie's plan to rob her father, reflecting a growing acceptance of dishonesty for gain.

### Gender and Power

Marie displays unexpected courage and agency by defying her father and mother, proposing a bold scheme, and publicly declaring her love.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Felix Carbury

Contemplates Marie's proposal to elope and rob her father; is urged by his mother to run away with Marie; visits Grosvenor Square and is embraced by Marie despite the risk.

### Marie Melmotte

Writes to Felix proposing elopement and seizure of her settlement; boldly declares her love for Felix in front of her mother, refusing to marry Lord Nidderdale.

### Lady Carbury

Presses Felix about his suit and urges him to elope with Marie, arguing that Melmotte will forgive them and that the risk is small.

### Augustus Melmotte

Present at Grosvenor Square but takes no notice of Felix; is described as having a heavy sternness and being dismissive of Marie's refusal to marry Nidderdale.

### Madame Melmotte

Fears Melmotte's reaction to Felix's presence; urges Felix to leave and calls Marie's love 'a beastliness'; flees when she hears Melmotte's step.

### Lord Nidderdale

Present at Grosvenor Square with his father; is poked out of the room by the Marquis; is the suitor Marie refuses to marry.

## Key lines

> Take me and marry me without my father's consent—and then you and I together can rob my father of the money which, for his own purposes, he has settled upon me.

Marie proposes that Felix elope with her and then claim the money her father settled on her, effectively robbing him.

_This summarizes Marie's bold plan to use marriage as a means to gain financial independence from her father._

> If I were you, Felix, I'd run off with her. I would indeed. It's done every day, and nobody thinks any harm of it when you marry the girl.

Lady Carbury advises Felix to elope with Marie, arguing that society accepts such actions as long as marriage follows.

_Lady Carbury's pragmatic advice reflects the social norms around elopement and financial necessity._

> I will never marry Lord Nidderdale. If he were to cut me into bits I wouldn't do it. Felix, you love me;—do you not?

Marie defiantly refuses to marry Lord Nidderdale and declares her love for Felix, even at the risk of her father's anger.

_Marie's courage is highlighted as she openly defies her family's plans for her marriage._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_we_live_now_se/chapters/xxix-miss-melmotte-s-courage
- 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