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Book 1, Chapter 10
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Return of the Native, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Humans vs. Nature
Modernity vs. Tradition
Class and Morality
Deception
Summary
Analysis
Having failed to persuade Eustacia, Venn decides to talk to Mrs. Yeobright. He finds Mrs. Yeobright on her way to see Wildeve; she looks upset. Venn strikes up a conversation with her and admits he was once one of Thomasin’s suitors. He asks whether there is a possibility that he could marry Thomasin, but Mrs. Yeobright says no. Although she does not like Wildeve, she feels that it is best for Thomasin’s reputation if she marries him. Venn disagrees with this assessment, but there is nothing he can do.
Here, it is apparent that Mrs. Yeobright cares more about appearances than Thomasin’s happiness. Though she suspects that Thomasin could live a happier life with Venn, she worries about how Thomasin marrying Venn would negatively affect her family’s reputation.
Themes
However, even though Venn is dejected, Mrs. Yeobright is excited. She now has a bargaining chip to use against Wildeve. Mrs. Yeobright arrives at Wildeve’s inn and the two of them begin discussing the marriage between Wildeve and Thomasin. Mrs. Yeobright tells Wildeve that he needs to act soon because Thomasin now has a different suitor. She does not reveal the suitor’s identity, but it does not matter; the news clearly bothers Wildeve. Mrs. Yeobright informs Wildeve that if he doesn’t marry Thomasin soon, she will accept the offer of the other man instead. She also tells him that he is not allowed to see Thomasin in the meantime.
Like many other characters in the novel, Mrs. Yeobright is happy to resort to deception if it means getting what she wants. Unlike Venn, who approaches Eustacia with an honest offer, Mrs. Yeobright uses manipulation. In this case, her manipulative tactics are effective; like Eustacia, Wildeve is motivated by jealousy. Additionally, Mrs. Yeobright tells Wildeve that he cannot speak to Thomasin because she doesn’t want him learning the truth about the other suitor.
Themes
Knowing his time is running out, Wildeve heads to Eustacia’s to see if she’s made a decision about coming to America with him. However, in doing so, he reveals to Eustacia the news that Thomasin has another suitor. This turns Eustacia off from Wildeve, and she once again informs him that she is not sure if she wants to be with him. However, she does promise to give him a firm answer in a week. Immediately after this conversation, Eustacia returns home where her grandfather tells her that Clym Yeobright, Mrs. Yeobright’s son and Thomasin’s cousin, is returning home from Paris for the holidays.
Once again, Eustacia and Wildeve demonstrate that neither truly loves the other. Furthermore, Eustacia has just learned of a man who comes from Paris, a place she fantasizes about. This knowledge is sure to push her even further away from Wildeve.
Themes
