Previous
Book 3, Chapter 7
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
Venn challenges Wildeve to a game of dice. Slowly, Venn wins back all of the money Wildeve made off of Christian. As the game progresses, Wildeve becomes increasingly angry, although he eventually concedes defeat and hands over all of the money to Venn. Shortly after the game ends, the newlyweds (Eustacia and Clym) go by in their carriage. Wildeve hides, not wanting to interact with Eustacia, though Venn congratulates them. He also informs them that he needs to find Thomasin to give her the money, and they point him in the right direction. Unfortunately, Venn does not know that half of the money belongs to Clym, so he does not give him any.
Venn once again proves himself to be Thomasin’s savoir, even if Thomasin does not know it. Although his actions are largely selfless, it is apparent that Venn enjoys getting the better of Wildeve, whom he feels is undeserving of Thomasin. Additionally, Wildeve’s decision to hide from Eustacia suggests that he still has unresolved feelings for her.
Themes
