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Part 2: Chapter 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Wolf Hall, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Power, Ambition, and Deception
Poor Leadership and Violence
Children and Human Connection
Dogmatism vs. Open-Mindedness
Myth and Storytelling
Summary
Analysis
On Halloween night, Cromwell thinks of Liz and wishes she were back, lying next to him in bed. Before her death, he and Liz would keep vigil with their parish for their dead family members, but now he keeps the vigil alone for her. He is with the cardinal at Esher, not at home at Austin Friars, but he thinks that Liz would nevertheless be able to find him. On All Hallows Day, Cromwell’s grief “threatens to capsize him” as he thinks of Liz and his dead children. When Cavendish sees him crying, Cromwell says he is crying because his career will be ruined with the cardinal’s. He says if he’d remained a lawyer in London, he’d be a rich man by now. Even as he says this, his memories overpower him and he cries again.
Cromwell has been overwhelmed with his work for the cardinal ever since his daughters died, and when he finally gives in to his grief on All Hallows Day (traditionally a day when people remember their dead family members), he finds it very difficult to pull himself out of his deep sadness. However, Cromwell always keeps his private self distinct from his public self, which is why he doesn’t tell Cavendish the real reason for his tears—he doesn’t want to be seen as weak and reveal that his family is his vulnerability.
Themes
Cromwell tells Cavendish that he’s sent Rafe to Westminster to try and get a seat for him in Parliament, and that he should probably go after him. Cavendish asks him to stay until they sort out the problem of how to pay the cardinal’s servants. Cromwell thinks that this is exactly what he needs—an accounting problem. He tells Cavendish he will sort it out and then go to Parliament, from where he will try to defend the cardinal—he says he will “make or mar” and claims that they will certainly kill Wolsey if he has no support. Later, Cavendish walks around telling people in the household that he’s seen Cromwell crying and reading a prayer book, and that he only now “realize[s] how bad things are” for Wolsey.
Cromwell seems to be glad that he is being kept busy with the cardinal’s problems, which don’t give him the time to consider his own. His loyalty to Wolsey will come to be legendary, but here Mantel shows that Cromwell’s hard work is also somewhat self-interested.
Themes
