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Chapter 13: The Man’s World
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Rainbow, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Search for Meaning
Love and Sexuality
Gender Roles
Religion and Spirituality
Industrialization and Modernity
Summary
Analysis
While still teaching, Ursula spends time at the Schofields’ farm behind Belcote Hall, where Maggie’s family lives and works. The hall, too damp for occupancy, serves as the backdrop for the family’s caretaker duties, which include farming and tending to the expansive gardens. Ursula enjoys the reverent attention she receives from Maggie’s brothers, particularly Anthony, the head gardener. His quiet admiration for her, reflected in his attentive eyes and gentle demeanor, intrigues Ursula. She enjoys captivating him with her conversation, often feeling a sense of power in knowing she has his attention.
Ursula's interactions with Maggie's family, particularly Anthony, indicate her evolving awareness of power dynamics in personal relationships. Anthony’s quiet admiration feeds into her growing sense of influence. The passive way Anthony regards her allows Ursula to feel a certain mastery over the situation. His reverence not only flatters her but also gives her a new sense of control, something she has often felt deprived of in her teaching environment and in other areas of her life.
Themes
Anthony frequently takes Ursula around the farm, showing her the plants he tends with meticulous care. His slow, deliberate manner of explaining everything fascinates Ursula. Though Anthony is more focused on her than the plants, Ursula finds herself genuinely interested in his work. His steady, almost animalistic gaze excites her, creating a subtle tension in their interactions. Maggie, sensing this growing bond, becomes increasingly reserved, though she never directly addresses her discomfort. Still, Ursula picks up on Maggie’s discomfort and feels guilty about her closeness with Anthony. After spending time with Anthony, Ursula often seeks out Maggie to reaffirm their friendship, but Maggie responds with a cool, distant attitude.
Anthony’s careful, deliberate way of guiding Ursula through the farm reflects a mutual curiosity, though it’s clear that Ursula’s presence captivates him more than the work itself. The physical closeness and shared interest in the plants allow Ursula to explore another form of power—this time, one rooted in quiet intimacy and attention rather than overt control. Additionally, the coolness from Maggie is a silent judgment that lingers, reminding Ursula of the potential cost of her growing bond with Anthony.
Themes
One morning after a snowfall, Ursula and Maggie walk through the wintry landscape. While Maggie reads Coleridge’s Christabel beneath a tree, Ursula perches in the branches, enjoying the crisp air and the serene beauty. As Ursula sits alone, Anthony approaches her. They talk, and Ursula expresses her admiration for the farm. Anthony suggests she could stay with him. He proposes marriage, and Ursula, momentarily caught off guard, feels a mixture of excitement and fear. However, she knows she cannot accept. Although she likes Anthony, she does not love him and cannot envision a life tied to the farm. She gently declines his proposal, explaining that she is meant for something different.
In Christabel, the innocent Christabel encounters the mysterious Geraldine, who, after gaining her trust, exerts a corrupting influence on her. The poem’s themes of innocence, desire, and vulnerability mirror Ursula’s emotional tension in this scene. Like Christabel, who is caught off guard by Geraldine’s influence, Ursula experiences a mix of excitement and fear when Anthony proposes. However, unlike Christabel, who remains powerless, Ursula asserts her autonomy by rejecting a life that would confine her.
Themes
Later, Ursula tells Maggie about Anthony’s proposal and her decision to refuse him. Though Ursula tries to reassure Maggie that she never intended to hurt anyone, Maggie remains distant, clearly affected by the situation. Ursula feels both regret and relief, understanding that she is destined to keep moving forward, unlike Anthony, who is rooted in his life on the farm.
Ursula's attempt to reassure Maggie about her refusal of Anthony reflects her awareness of the emotional stakes involved, not just for herself but for Maggie as well. However, Maggie’s distance suggests that their relationship may be beyond repair.
Themes
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As Ursula’s final year of teaching progresses, her focus shifts increasingly toward her future. During this time, Will takes a new job as an “Art and Handiwork Instructor” for the Nottingham Education Committee. The family moves from Cossethay to a larger house in Beldover, a small industrial town. Though this marks an improvement in status for her family, the new home disappoints Ursula. The red-brick house in the grimy town lacks the elegance and distinction she had hoped for.
While Will’s new position marks an improvement in status and suggests upward mobility, Ursula’s disappointment with the red-brick house in Beldover reveals her deeper yearning for something beyond mere material or societal gains. The grimy industrial setting of Beldover contrasts sharply with Ursula’s aspirations for beauty and intellectual fulfillment.
Themes
Despite her disappointment, Ursula prepares to leave behind her old life. On her last day of teaching, she feels a mixture of triumph and nostalgia. Mr. Harby, who has often been harsh with her, unexpectedly offers kind words and gifts her two books, chosen by Maggie. The gesture is touching to Ursula, who feels pride in the work she has done at the school, despite the challenges she faced. Leaving the school, Ursula feels a rush of excitement about her future. She joins her family in their new home, filled with a sense of adventure. With college ahead, Ursula feels ready to embrace the unknown, leaving her past behind as she looks forward to what lies ahead.
Mr. Harby’s unexpected kindness demonstrates the multifaceted relationships Ursula has built, even with those who initially opposed her. The gesture serves as a quiet acknowledgment of Ursula’s perseverance, despite the authoritarian atmosphere that Mr. Harby often represented. The fact that Maggie selected the books further personalizes the moment, subtly reinforcing the emotional bonds Ursula has formed, even as she prepares to leave them behind.
Themes
