Previous
Volume 4, Chapter 17
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
When Emily goes back to see the Count De Villefort, everyone greets her even more warmly now that they know she’s a relative of the Villeroi family. The Count now approves of Valancourt, but he hasn’t had a chance to inform Emily yet. Meanwhile, Blanche makes her own plans for a marriage with Chevalier St. Foix. Emily herself continues to worry about Valancourt’s current state.
The final remaining conflict in the novel is how Emily with will resolve things with Valancourt. Although she is finally convinced of his good character, she worries about his health, showing how her love for him takes the form of concern.
Themes
One evening, Emily takes her lute up to a place she likes and composes a song dedicated to melancholy. She lingers in the tranquility of nature for a long time before all of a sudden, she hears the voice of Valancourt. She faints at once.
Emily has not played music on her lute for a while, and so this scene shows how despite all her trials and adventures, she continues to take comfort in simple pleasures like music.
Themes
When Emily revives, she and Valancourt greet each other enthusiastically. Valancourt explains how his behavior got misrepresented in rumors, and Emily tells him that she now feels tenderly toward him again. Valancourt kisses her hand. They go back into the house, and Count De Villefort takes Valancourt aside to hear his explanations about his behavior in Paris. Satisfied by the explanation, the Count apologizes to Valancourt for ever doubting him. Everyone is happy and celebrates until late in the evening.
Ultimately, the conflict between Emily and Valancourt was just a misunderstanding, and now that it has been cleared up, Emily has no hesitation about being with him. Although Emily’s rational way of thinking has at times kept her away from Valancourt, the fact that the two of them get a happy ending ultimately vindicates Emily’s decision to act rationally, even at times when it seemed to go against her heart.
Themes
