Those Barren Leaves · Chapter
IV explained
On the terrace at night, Mrs.
What happens
On the terrace at night, Mrs. Aldwinkle leads a discussion about passion, the South, and the stars, with Irene invoking Bossuet, Mr. Cardan offering a cynical analysis, and Miss Thriplow attempting to balance cleverness with a show of genuine feeling.
Themes in this chapter
Authenticity vs. Performance
Mrs. Aldwinkle's passionate defense of 'grandeur of passion' contrasts with Mr. Cardan's cynical analysis, while Miss Thriplow performs a 'simple and natural' persona to counter her own cleverness.
Class and Snobbery
Mrs. Aldwinkle's disdain for the 'bourgeois age' and her aristocratic carelessness with her dress highlight class snobbery, while Mr. Cardan links passion to leisured classes.
Desire and Self-Deception
Irene's recollection of her past passions, prompted by Aunt Lilian's suggestions, and Calamy's wish to be free of passion yet drawn to Miss Thriplow, illustrate self-deception in desire.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Aldwinkle
Leads the evening promenade, passionately defends the grandeur of passion, and is indignant at Miss Thriplow's jokes about Italian tenors.
- Irene
Timidly but determinedly quotes Bossuet on passion to support Aunt Lilian, blushes at Mr. Cardan's encouragement, and recalls her own past infatuations.
- Mr. Cardan
Offers a witty, sociological explanation of passion as a product of leisure and warm climates, teasing Irene and provoking Mrs. Aldwinkle.
- Mary Thriplow
Makes a joke about stars being like Italian tenors, then quickly tries to correct the impression by praising Bellini and linking melody to the landscape.
- Mr. Calamy
Agrees with Mrs. Aldwinkle as a labor-saving device, reflects on passion with a sigh, and finds Miss Thriplow perversely attractive.
- Lord Hovenden
Walks apart, humming loudly to show he is occupied with his own thoughts, disturbed by Irene's knowledge of passion, and asks Mr. Falx about Fascist Trades Unions.
Key passages
“Wasn't it Bossuet who said that there was something of the Infinite in passion?”
Irene asks if Bossuet didn't claim that passion contains a touch of the infinite.
Irene uses this quote to support Aunt Lilian's view of passion.
“Passion can only flourish among the well-fed unemployed.”
Mr. Cardan argues that passion thrives only in those who have leisure and are not burdened by hard work.
Cardan's cynical take on the social conditions necessary for passion.
“Even Nature, in Italy, is like a work of art.”
Miss Thriplow observes that the Italian landscape appears as deliberately beautiful as a painting or sculpture.
She uses this to recover from her earlier joke and impress Mr. Cardan.