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Book 5, Chapter 2
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
Clym arrives home and begins yelling at Eustacia; he blames her for Mrs. Yeobright’s death and accuses her of having an affair. Eustacia denies his accusations but refuses to explain further. Eustacia eventually admits that she is partially guilty—but not in the manner Clym thinks. Clym asks her to explain herself, and she refuses. Eventually, Eustacia admits that she did not unlock the door immediately. However, she promises that that she would have done so had she realized that Clym hadn’t answered it either. Still, she does not make any mention of Wildeve. Upset by the whole situation, Eustacia leaves to go back to her grandfather. Later in the day, Clym learns that Thomasin’s given birth to a baby girl, whom she names Baby Eustacia.
Once again, Eustacia refuses to adequately defend herself. Though Clym’s accusations are largely false, they are not unreasonable, and Eustacia does little to help case. Although Clym quickly realizes that some of his accusations go a step too far, he still wants answers—which Eustacia repeatedly denies him. Additionally, in a twist of cruel irony, Thomasin names her child after Eustacia, just as Eustacia and Clym’s marriage starts to crumble.
Themes
