Study Questions

1. What is the first indication that Dorothea and Casaubon may have decided to marry too hastily?

2. For what reasons does Brooke allow Dorothea to accept Casaubon's proposal?

3. What is Chettam's purpose in asking Cadwallader to intervene?

4. When do Dorothea and Ladislaw first meet?

5. Why is Tucker answering all the questions about Lowick?

6. What is Mrs. Vincy's argument against Mary?

7. How are both the Vincys and the Garths related to Featherstone?

8. Why are all Featherstone's siblings gathered at Stone Court?

9. What is it that Featherstone discusses with Fred?

10. What evidence do we have that Rosamond and Lydgate are falling in love?

Answers

1. During her six-week engagement, Dorothea wants to learn to read Greek and Latin so that, once she is married, she may read to Casaubon in order to save his failing eyesight. He wants her to learn to write these languages, which indicates he would prefer to do the reading himself, alone.

2. Brooke is delighted that Casaubon may become a bishop and has money. He offers several reasons for Dorothea not to marry Casaubon, but she refutes each. She prefers a scholarly existence and thinks to have one as Casaubon's wife. She has always seemed to know her opinion. Brooke feels he cannot object to her having what it is she thinks she wants: marriage to Casaubon.

3. Chettam asks Cadwallader to intervene because Mrs. Cadwallader will not. Chettam had been courting Dorothea and knows of her desire to make improvements. He is also worried that Casaubon is too old and does not have enough life left in him. He wants Mr. Cadwallader to tell Brooke to make Dorothea wait until she is older.

4. Dorothea, Celia, and Brooke go to Lowick Manor to see where Dorothea will be living. As they walk around the village and to the church, Celia sees a young man who Casaubon explains is his second cousin; this is Ladislaw.

5. Tucker is the curate of the church. As such, he knows more about it and the village than Casaubon does.

6. Mrs. Vincy is terribly worried that Mary, who is poor, will marry her son, Fred, to have a steady income.

7. Featherstone is an old, childless man who has been widowed twice: the first time by Mary's aunt (her father's sister), and the second time by Mrs. Vincy's sister.

8. The siblings are gathered at Stone Court because Featherstone is rich and he is dying. This is their last chance to have him include them in his will. They suspect they are not already there.

9. Featherstone was told the rumor that Fred has run up debts by intimating that he will be Featherstone's heir and will soon have all that is Featherstone's.

10. Rosamond asks Fred to take her riding when she knows he will visit Stone Court, where Lydgate is her uncle's doctor. Once there, Lydgate and she cannot keep their eyes from each another.