The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: Chapter 36 Summary & Analysis

It is now December 20 and, with their third anniversary drawing near, Helen and Arthur are living together as strangers. Arthur, having maintained his moderate habits for a few weeks, is now drinking to excess again. He abuses Helen bitterly and Helen takes it all very calmly. She knows that a more emotional response would only amuse him or tempt him into using her as a stand-in for Annabella. Helen’s feelings for Arthur vacillate between hatred and indifference. She is happiest when he is gone from the house. When he leaves, he usually does so in the company of Walter Hargrave, who is being so careful to act with such polite decorum around Helen that she admits she’s starting to almost like him.

Two months pass, and Helen is in the midst of thawing some toward Arthur, thinking that maybe she should start treating him with real kindness instead of cold civility, when he hands her a letter from Annabella and suggests she take a few lessons from his lover in how to be a good and true partner. The letter is effusive and affectionate. Helen is disgusted with it and with her husband. Making matters worse is the fact that little Arthur prefers his father to her, because his father is always indulging his whims. Helen worries that she is losing not only her son’s affection but her chance to be a good influence over him. She refuses to despair, though, and vows to trust in God’s power to deliver her from such suffering.