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Volume 3, Chapter 3
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Mysteries of Udolpho, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Marriage, Love, and Inheritance
The Wonders of Nature
Mystery and Superstition
Mortality
The Value of Education and Art
Summary
Analysis
The next morning, Emily sees that Madame Montoni is still weak. Montoni visits and sees that Madame Montoni indeed seems to be dying. He continues to press her about signing away her estates to him, but she still refuses. Soon after he leaves, Madame Montoni tells Emily where to find some important papers about Madame Montoni’s properties (which Emily will inherit when she dies), telling Emily never to lose track of these papers. Then Madame Montoni falls asleep, and Emily stays with her.
While this deathbed scene provides an opportunity for Emily to demonstrate her selflessness, Montoni does the exact opposite and shows how even as his new wife’s health deteriorates, all he cares about is securing an inheritance from her. Even Madame Montoni herself remains materialistic in the face of death, caring most of all about the paperwork for her properties. This is all a stark contrast from the more idealistic deathbed advice that Madame St. Aubert and St. Aubert left behind for Emily.
Themes
That night, Emily goes out on the rampart and asks one of the guards again about the mysterious figure. She learns that some guards are superstitious and see the appearance of the figure as an omen. Just then, Annette calls that Emily needs to come because Madame Montoni is dying. By the time Emily gets back, Madame Montoni is already dead. Annette said she knew something was wrong when Madame Montoni wasn’t afraid of the terrible thunderstorm going on. Emily is devastated and asks God for comfort.
The stormy atmosphere during Madame Montoni’s death perhaps reflects her torments over the regrets she had in life, contrasting yet again with the more peaceful atmosphere around the deaths of Madame St. Aubert and St. Aubert. Emily seems genuinely saddened by the death of her aunt, who cared so little for Emily herself, showing Emily’s great capacity for empathy.
Themes
