Previous
Book 2, Chapter 4
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
The following evening, Eustacia meets her fellow mummers near the fuel-house. She introduces herself as Miss Vye’s cousin who has come to replace Charley because he is ill. The others are skeptical at first, but Eustacia recites a few lines to win them over. The mummers head to Blooms-End, and Eustacia wonders whether all of this effort is worth it. However, she convinces herself that her efforts will not be in vain, because she will soon meet the man who has “the power to deliver her soul from a most deadly oppression.”
Eustacia’s decision to join the mummers is a big moment of character development, and it also reinforces her genuine desire to escape Egdon. Previously, Eustacia has actively avoided the rest of her community, and now she is going to perform in front of all of them. Once again, she remains steadfast in the notion that Clym is her savior, despite having never met the man.
Themes
The mummers arrive at Blooms-End but have to wait outside in the cold—there is still dancing going on inside, and they have to wait their turn. After a while, the mummers consider heading inside before they are called, though Eustacia insists that doing so would be rude. After talking amongst themselves for some time, the mummers ask Eustacia if she is Eustacia Vye. Eustacia does not give a clear answer to their question, though it is obvious that the mummers have figured out the truth. They promise not to reveal her true identity.
Eustacia is not used to others treating her like a member of the lower classes, and she bristles at the idea of waiting outside in the cold. This sense of entitlement immediately gives her away to her fellow mummers, all of whom are presumably used to much worse.
Themes
Eventually, it is time for the play to begin. Eustacia, who plays the Turkish Knight, has a lead role for the first half of the play, and she does a decent job. She recites her speeches perfectly, though she does struggle when she has to partake in sword fights. Overall, the performance is mediocre, so nothing Eustacia does makes her stand out one way or another. Halfway through the performance, Eustacia’s character dies. During her death scene, Eustacia makes sure she falls against a wall so that she can spend the rest of her time scanning the party for Clym.
Eustacia proves that she can more or less keep up with her fellow mummers, despite joining the troupe at the last minute. It is unclear at this point whether anyone suspects the truth of her identity.
Themes
