The Woodlanders · Chapter
XVII explained
Grace Melbury visits the ill Grammer Oliver, who confesses she accepted Dr.
What happens
Grace Melbury visits the ill Grammer Oliver, who confesses she accepted Dr. Fitzpiers's offer of ten pounds for her brain after death and signed a paper, now fearing she will die of worry like John South. Despite her reluctance, Grace agrees to plead with Fitzpiers to cancel the bargain. The chapter also explores Fitzpiers's restless intellectual pursuits and growing loneliness in Hintock, which leads him to idealize Grace after glimpsing her.
Themes in this chapter
Isolation and Community
Fitzpiers's loneliness in Hintock is contrasted with the deep-rooted community ties of the Melburys and Winterborne; his lack of local memories makes the place pall.
Fate and Irony
Grammer Oliver's fear of dying from her bargain mirrors John South's death from fear of the tree, highlighting ironic patterns of fate.
Sacrifice and Duty
Grace reluctantly agrees to confront Fitzpiers out of duty to Grammer, despite her own discomfort and fear.
Characters to notice
- Grace Melbury
Visits Grammer Oliver and reluctantly agrees to intercede with Fitzpiers to cancel the brain bargain.
- Grammer Oliver
Lies ill, tormented by her agreement to sell her brain to Fitzpiers; she manipulates Grace into helping her.
- Edgar Fitzpiers
Depicted as a desultory intellectual with a keen interest in science and philosophy; his loneliness in Hintock leads him to romanticize Grace.
- Giles Winterborne
Mentioned in the context of Fitzpiers's conversation with him about abstract philosophy.
- George Melbury
Grace asks that her father not be told of the bargain with Fitzpiers.
- John South
Referenced as a parallel: his death from fear of the tree is cited by Grammer as a reason for her own anxiety.
- Mrs. Melbury
Mentioned as a possible advocate for Grammer, but deemed unlikely to sway Fitzpiers.
Key passages
“I will not have him”
Grammer Oliver refuses to see a doctor.
Her stubbornness about medical help underscores her fear of Fitzpiers.
“I took that money of the doctor, after all!”
Grammer confesses she accepted the ten pounds from Fitzpiers for her brain.
This revelation drives the chapter's central conflict.
“If you ask him to burn the paper he will, I'm sure, and think no more of it.”
Grace suggests that Fitzpiers would cancel the agreement if asked.
Grace's naivety about Fitzpiers's character is evident here.
“the most irksome of solitudes is not the solitude of remoteness, but that which is just outside desirable company.”
The worst loneliness is being near but not part of the society one desires.
This reflects Fitzpiers's growing infatuation with Grace.