# VI explained — The Well of Loneliness

> Chapter companion for The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall.

## What happens

Anna returns home to find that Stephen has had a violent outburst, breaking a flowerpot and striking a footman. Sir Philip dismisses Collins and the footman, and Anna attempts to comfort Stephen, but finds the child strangely composed and reassuring, refusing to discuss her attachment to Collins.

## Themes in this chapter

### Shame and Secrecy

Stephen's refusal to discuss her affection for Collins and her attempt to conceal her true feelings from her mother highlight the theme of secrecy and the shame surrounding her attachments.

### Family and Rejection

The dismissal of Collins, a beloved servant, and Stephen's emotional isolation within the family underscore the theme of rejection and familial tension.

## Character check-ins

### Lady Anna Gordon

Returns home after the incident, tries to comfort Stephen but feels awkward and nonplussed by her daughter's unusual composure.

### Stephen Gordon

Has had a fit of temper, throwing a flowerpot at a footman; she is now calm, smiling stiffly, and tries to reassure her mother while remaining silent about her feelings for Collins.

### Sir Philip Gordon

Intercepts Anna in the hall, downplays the incident, and announces that Collins and the footman must go.

### Collins

Dismissed by Sir Philip following Stephen's outburst.

## Key lines

> Stephen’s been naughty, she’s up in the nursery; she’s had one of her fits of temper

Sir Philip informs Anna that Stephen has misbehaved and is in the nursery after a tantrum.

_Sir Philip downplays the severity of the incident to Anna._

> She’s trying to keep something back

Anna senses that Stephen is hiding her true feelings.

_Anna feels increasingly confused by Stephen's guarded behavior._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_of_loneliness_se/chapters