# IV: The Narrative of the Tombstone explained — The Woman in White

> Chapter companion for The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

## What happens

The chapter presents the inscription on the tombstone of Laura, Lady Glyde, recording her birth, marriage, and death, which serves as a stark marker of the conspiracy against her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Appearance

The tombstone falsely declares Laura's death, erasing her true identity and replacing it with a fabricated narrative.

### Secrecy and Conspiracy

The inscription is a public lie, part of the conspiracy to imprison Laura and steal her identity.

## Character check-ins

### Laura Fairlie

The deceased, whose tombstone records her as Laura, Lady Glyde, wife of Sir Percival Glyde.

### Sir Percival Glyde

Mentioned as the husband of the deceased on the tombstone.

### Frederick Fairlie

Implied as the brother of the late Philip Fairlie, whose daughter Laura is commemorated.

## Key lines

> Sacred to the Memory of Laura, Lady Glyde, wife of Sir Percival Glyde, Bart., of Blackwater Park, Hampshire, and daughter of the late Philip Fairlie, Esq., of Limmeridge House, in this parish. Born March 27th, 1829; married December 22nd, 1849; died July 25th, 1850.

This tombstone is dedicated to Laura, Lady Glyde, who was married to Sir Percival Glyde and was the daughter of the deceased Philip Fairlie. It records her birth, marriage, and death dates.

_The epitaph presents a false official record of Laura's life and death, central to the conspiracy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv-the-narrative-of-the-tombstone
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_woman_in_white_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters