The Son’s Veto

by

Thomas Hardy

Mr. Twycott Character Analysis

Mr. Twycott, often referred to simply as “the vicar” or “the parson,” is Sophy’s husband and Randolph’s father. He is a high-ranking clergyman in the Anglican church and wealthy enough to possess multiple large homes, hire multiple servants, and secure a prestigious education for his son. When his first wife dies, he recognizes his affection for Sophy and asks her to marry him, even though he knows that by doing so he is committing “social suicide.” But he still cares enough about his social image to take steps to limit the negative impact of his marriage to Sophy, including moving to London (to escape from everyone who knew that Sophy had once been his maid) and investing in Sophy’s education in an effort to eliminate her working-class mannerisms. Despite their differing backgrounds, however, Sophy and Mr. Twycott seem to have a relatively happy marriage; it is only after Mr. Twycott dies, and as her son grows older, that Sophy’s troubles begin. Mr. Twycott’s major flaw is his tendency to treat Sophy as a “child” (he is 20 years older than her), which creates considerable problems for Sophy after his death, as she is left with virtually no control over the estate, her son’s education, or even her own life. Even so, Mr. Twycott is, overall, a sympathetic character in the novel; his willingness to marry Sophy in spite of the potential damage to his social status stands in sharp contrast to his son’s refusal to accept Sophy’s desire to marry Sam.

Mr. Twycott Quotes in The Son’s Veto

The The Son’s Veto quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Twycott or refer to Mr. Twycott . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Social Class vs. Human Flourishing Theme Icon
).
Part I Quotes

Sophy did not exactly love him, but she had a respect for him which almost amounted to veneration. Even if she had wished to get away from him she hardly dared refuse a personage so reverend and august in her eyes, and she assented forthwith to be his wife.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Mr. Twycott
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Twycott knew perfectly well that he had committed social suicide by this step, despite Sophy's spotless character, and he had taken his measures accordingly.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Mr. Twycott
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:

Sophy the woman was as charming a partner as a man could possess, though Sophy the lady had her deficiencies. She showed a natural aptitude for little domestic refinements, so far as related to things and manners; but in what is called culture she was less intuitive. She had now been married more than fourteen years, and her husband had taken much trouble with her education; but she still held confused ideas on the use of ‘was’ and ‘were,’ which did not beget a respect for her among the few acquaintances she made. Her great grief in this relation was that her only child, on whose education no expense had been and would be spared, was now old enough to perceive these deficiencies in his mother, and not only to see them but to feel irritated at their existence.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Randolph Twycott , Mr. Twycott
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Part II Quotes

Throughout these changes Sophy had been treated like the child she was in nature though not in years. She was left with no control over anything that had been her husband’s beyond her modest personal income. In his anxiety lest her inexperience should be overreached he had safeguarded with trustees all he possibly could. The completion of the boy’s course at the public school, to be followed in due time by Oxford and ordination, had been all previsioned and arranged, and she really had nothing to occupy her in the world but to eat and drink, and make a business of indolence, and go on weaving and coiling the nut-brown hair, merely keeping a home open for the son whenever he came to her during vacations.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Randolph Twycott , Mr. Twycott
Related Symbols: Sophy’s Braided Hair
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Twycott Quotes in The Son’s Veto

The The Son’s Veto quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Twycott or refer to Mr. Twycott . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Social Class vs. Human Flourishing Theme Icon
).
Part I Quotes

Sophy did not exactly love him, but she had a respect for him which almost amounted to veneration. Even if she had wished to get away from him she hardly dared refuse a personage so reverend and august in her eyes, and she assented forthwith to be his wife.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Mr. Twycott
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Twycott knew perfectly well that he had committed social suicide by this step, despite Sophy's spotless character, and he had taken his measures accordingly.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Mr. Twycott
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:

Sophy the woman was as charming a partner as a man could possess, though Sophy the lady had her deficiencies. She showed a natural aptitude for little domestic refinements, so far as related to things and manners; but in what is called culture she was less intuitive. She had now been married more than fourteen years, and her husband had taken much trouble with her education; but she still held confused ideas on the use of ‘was’ and ‘were,’ which did not beget a respect for her among the few acquaintances she made. Her great grief in this relation was that her only child, on whose education no expense had been and would be spared, was now old enough to perceive these deficiencies in his mother, and not only to see them but to feel irritated at their existence.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Randolph Twycott , Mr. Twycott
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Part II Quotes

Throughout these changes Sophy had been treated like the child she was in nature though not in years. She was left with no control over anything that had been her husband’s beyond her modest personal income. In his anxiety lest her inexperience should be overreached he had safeguarded with trustees all he possibly could. The completion of the boy’s course at the public school, to be followed in due time by Oxford and ordination, had been all previsioned and arranged, and she really had nothing to occupy her in the world but to eat and drink, and make a business of indolence, and go on weaving and coiling the nut-brown hair, merely keeping a home open for the son whenever he came to her during vacations.

Related Characters: Sophy Twycott, Randolph Twycott , Mr. Twycott
Related Symbols: Sophy’s Braided Hair
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis: