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Book 5, Chapter 9
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 story of Wildeve and Eustacia becomes well-known, even by those who did not know them. After Wildeve’s death, Thomasin learns that her husband had many debts, which she uses his fortune to pay off. Additionally, she is forced to move back to her aunt’s old home with Clym. Although she is devasted by what happened, Thomasin is glad that she still has Baby Eustacia to keep her company. Clym, however, is a shell of himself and spends most of his time wandering between the graves of his loved ones. Meanwhile, Venn gives up his reddleman career and returns to dairy farming. This catches Thomasin’s attention, and she and Venn strike up a romance.
