The Woodlanders · Chapter
XXIII explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Melbury takes Grace for a walk to persuade her of the advantages of marrying Dr. Fitzpiers, emphasizing the romantic history of the Fitzpiers family. Grace visits the ruins of Buckbury Fitzpiers Castle, feeling a novel fascination with Edgar's ancient lineage. Fitzpiers returns and visits the Melbury home, where an informal engagement is established. Over the summer, Grace yields to Fitzpiers's influence and they discuss a registry office wedding, which disturbs her. The chapter ends with Grace feeling intoxicated yet uncertain about her future.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Ambition
Mr. Melbury pressures Grace to marry Fitzpiers for social elevation, contrasting the Fitzpiers' aristocratic lineage with the Winterborne's yeoman status.
Love and Marriage
Grace's engagement to Fitzpiers is driven by persuasion and ambition rather than deep affection, and the debate over a church versus registry office wedding highlights conflicting views on marriage.
Tradition vs. Modernity
Fitzpiers advocates for a civil registry wedding, rejecting traditional church ceremonies, while Grace clings to conventional expectations.
Characters to notice
- Grace Melbury
Grace is persuaded by her father to consider Fitzpiers, visits the Fitzpiers castle ruins, and becomes engaged to Fitzpiers despite her reservations about a registry office wedding.
- George Melbury
Mr. Melbury actively promotes the match with Fitzpiers, studies old medical texts to converse with him, and anxiously oversees the engagement's progress.
- Edgar Fitzpiers
Fitzpiers returns to Hintock, formalizes his engagement to Grace, and proposes a registry office wedding to avoid publicity.
- Giles Winterborne
Giles is mentioned by Mr. Melbury as an unsuitable match for Grace, reinforcing the social divide.
- Mrs. Melbury
Mrs. Melbury is present during Fitzpiers's visit and encourages Grace to accompany him to the door.
- Grammer Oliver
Grammer Oliver is heard pumping water in the back kitchen during Fitzpiers's visit, adding to Grace's embarrassment.
Key passages
“The promise of an enormous apple-crop is fulfilling itself, is it not? I suppose Giles is getting his mills and presses ready.”
Grace remarks on the abundant apple harvest and assumes Giles is preparing his equipment.
Grace's mention of Giles shows her lingering connection to him, which her father quickly dismisses.
“You can't help being happy, Grace, in allying yourself with such a romantical family. You'll feel as if you've stepped into history.”
Mr. Melbury tells Grace that marrying into the Fitzpiers family will bring her happiness and a sense of historical importance.
Melbury emphasizes the romanticized lineage of Fitzpiers to persuade Grace.
“Marriage is a civil contract, and the shorter and simpler it is made the better. People don't go to church when they take a house, or even when they make a will.”
Fitzpiers argues that marriage should be a simple civil ceremony, not necessarily a religious one.
Fitzpiers's modern, secular view of marriage contrasts with Grace's traditional expectations.