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Book 1, Chapter 4
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
Mrs. Yeobright’s sudden change of tone shocks Thomasin, and she apologizes for any embarrassment she’s caused. She explains that she and Wildeve were unable to marry because of an issue with the marriage license, although she doesn’t know the details. Mrs. Yeobright continues to chastise her niece; she is already angry about being the subject of gossip and expects that this incident will only make things worse. As Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin make their way to the Quiet Woman Inn to ask Wildeve about the issue with the marriage license, Thomasin explains that she abandoned Wildeve and went with Venn because she was so upset that she couldn’t get married.
Although the issue with the marriage license may seem like no big deal today, during the time The Return of the Native was written, such an incident would have indeed been considered scandalous. Mrs. Yeobright knows this and is correct to assume that it will become the center of the town’s gossip. Additionally, Thomasin’s decision to leave Wildeve for Venn suggests that she feels safe or comfortable around him—and perhaps even has a romantic history with him.
Themes
Thomasin and Mrs. Yeobright arrive at the inn where they find Wildeve. After briefly scolding Thomasin for abandoning him, Wildeve explains to Mrs. Yeobright that he got the marriage license from a different town than the one he was to be married in. He didn’t read the license in advance and therefore didn’t know that it would be an issue. Mrs. Yeobright is angry at Wildeve for his carelessness and reprimands him, though he shrugs off her aggression. He tells her that she is making something out of nothing and then asks for some time alone with Thomasin.
Wildeve’s explanation seems innocent enough and, unlike Mrs. Yeobright, he is not concerned about the social implications of what has occurred. Furthermore, his unconcerned attitude suggests that maybe the mix-up with the license wasn’t as unexpected (and disappointing) to Wildeve as it was to Thomasin—maybe his explanation isn’t as innocent as it seems.
Themes
Thomasin and Wildeve move off to a side room where they can speak alone. Wildeve tells Thomasin that he still wants to marry her, but he is annoyed with Mrs. Yeobright because of the scene she’s caused and because of how she treats him. Before their conversation can advance too far, the bonfire group arrives and begins singing. Wildeve tells Mrs. Yeobright to hide in the side room with Thomasin while he faces the bonfire crew. Unaware of what has happened, the bonfire crew enters and congratulates Wildeve on his marriage. They all have a drink together and engage in idle gossip. Wildeve tolerates them but treats them rather rudely.
Though Mrs. Yeobright intention in meddling with Thomasin’s marriage is purportedly for Thomasin’s benefit, it often has the opposite effect—here, it’s caused a minor rift between Thomasin and Wildeve . Wildeve is annoyed by Mrs. Yeobright’s condescension and with good reason. However, he proves that he can be quite condescending himself in his interactions with the bonfire crew.
Themes
After a while, the conversation turns to the subject of the Vye homestead. Fairway tells Wildeve about the bonfire, and Wildeve looks out the window to find it still burning. Soon after, the revelers leave. Wildeve looks in the side room and finds that Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin are also gone. After a brief detour to Olly’s house, where he drops off a bottle of wine, Wildeve heads in the direction of the Vye property, while saying to himself, “Yes—by Heaven, I must go to her, I suppose.”
Wildeve treats the bonfire as though it is some sort of signal for him. He also acts as though the bonfire it is more important to him than dealing with Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin. His fixation on the bonfire becomes clear when he says to himself that he “must go to her,” which implies that another woman in his life (besides Thomasin) is using the bonfire to summon him.
Themes
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