# XXIII explained — The Woodlanders

> Chapter companion for The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters/xxiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_woodlanders_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_woodlanders_se/chapters