Daniel Deronda

Gwendolen is on a tour of Europe with the Langens, her cousins. Fanny Davilow, Gwendolen’s mother, writes to her daughter. She asks Gwendolen to come home due to a family emergency. Gwendolen learns that the collapse of a large bank has caused Gwendolen’s family—as well as her Aunt Gascoigne—to lose all their money. The Gascoigne family has only lost the small amount of money that Mr. Gascoigne saved during his time as a priest, so his family is able to continue living in the rectory. The Davilow family, meanwhile, must leave their home. Gwendolen is angry at the idea of being poor, particularly after her winning streak the day before was broken by Deronda distracting her. She examines herself in a mirror while planning her next move.

She no longer has enough money to travel home, so she thinks about pawning an expensive turquoise necklace. She would rather pawn the necklace than ask her cousins for financial help; she does not want them to know what has happened. Pawning the necklace early in the morning at a Jewish pawnbroker, she returns to the hotel before her fellow travelers wake up. When she returns, however, a mysterious package is waiting for her. Inside is her necklace, plus a note warning her that she should avoid losing it again. Immediately, Gwendolen knows that the package was sent by Deronda. Her pride is wounded, thinking that he looks down on her. A short time later, she returns home.

The narrative shifts back one year. Gwendolen is moving to a large house named Offendene with her family. The house has been selected due to its proximity to the rectory, where Mr. Gascoigne lives with his family. Gwendolen is moving with her mother and her four half sisters. Gwendolen’s father died when she was still an infant, and her mother remarried, only to be widowed again. Now aged 20, Gwendolen has grown into a strong, proud young woman. She is accustomed to guiding her mother through life and she is viewed like a “princess in exile” (18). Her stepsisters look up to Gwendolen, but they are also slightly scared of her. At one time, one of the girls’ pet canaries was singing too loudly. Gwendolen killed the bird to keep it quiet. Exploring the house, Gwendolen discovers a hidden portrait of a horrific “upturned dead face” (20) and insists that it be hidden behind a locked panel.

The Gascoigne family includes eight children. Six of the eight children are male. One of the two sisters is Anna, who is close in age to Gwendolen and who insists that she is not clever. Mr. Gascoigne invites Gwendolen to join the archery club, claiming that he is an accomplished archer. Gwendolen flatters her uncle, hoping that he will find her a horse so that she can go riding. Though the Davilow family is not rich, Mr. Gascoigne agrees to find her a horse. Later, he dismisses his wife’s concern that he is “almost too indulgent” (28).

Mr. Gascoigne wants to be certain that Gwendolen will make a good impression in the local community, so that people will consider her a good marriage prospect. Gwendolen is less enthusiastic about marriage, though she enjoys the idea of people admiring her in her wedding dress. Marriage, as a whole, seems “dreary” to her. Gwendolen believes that marriage leads to children, and she believes that having children makes women dull and that such women follow their husbands’ wishes too closely. Nevertheless, Gwendolen believes that she will inevitably need to marry as it is a form of “social promotion.” Gwendolen has set herself two ambitions in life: to do whatever makes her happy and to make other people admire her. She can talk on many subjects but has little time for things she considers to be silly. She is spoiled by her mother, who still feels guilty for her second husband’s unkind behavior to Gwendolen. Many people who know Gwendolen are concerned by her unpredictability.

The local community welcomes Gwendolen. The one person who takes a dislike to her is Mrs. Arrowpoint, who feels that Gwendolen took a patronizing tone upon learning that Mrs. Arrowpoint is an aspiring novelist. Mrs. Arrowpoint suspects that Gwendolen has “over-acted her naivete” (38). Mrs. Arrowpoint’s practical daughter, Catherine, is not considered to be particularly attractive. She is regarded as kind and pleasant, however, and she studies music very seriously. Catherine takes piano lessons from Herr Klesmer, a German music teacher. The Arrowpoints host an event during which Gwendolen steps up to sing. Herr Klesmer does not hesitate to criticize Gwendolen, claiming she hasn’t been taught well. Gwendolen is shocked by the blunt criticism but maintains her polite demeanor.

Catherine is the heir to the Arrowpoint fortune, which makes Gwendolen jealous. Gwendolen is also jealous of Catherine’s musical talents and the natural way that she moves through society. Nevertheless, Gwendolen remains certain that she is an “exceptional” person. Though she is ambitious, her vague dreams of success are held back by the constrictions of social norms. For fun, she and her sisters plan the games they will play at their upcoming party.

Mr. Middleton is the nephew of the local bishop. He helps to prepare the house for the party and has secretly fallen in love with Gwendolen. Anna’s brother Rex has recently returned home from boarding school and has also fallen in love with Gwendolen. The party goes well, save for a moment when a panel in the drawing room wall pops free and reveals the “picture of the dead face and the fleeing figure” (49). Gwendolen screams when she sees the painting. Noticing her reaction, Herr Klesmer tactfully suggests that Gwendolen’s outburst was “good acting” and part of the performance. Later, Gwendolen’s sister Isabel confesses to unlocking the panel.

Rex is Anna’s favorite brother. She worries that his love for Gwendolen will result in heartbreak as she presumes Gwendolen would never love him. One day, Rex takes Gwendolen on a horse ride. She wants to see the local hounds in the fox hunting party. As they ride, Rex raises the subject of love but Gwendolen is dismissive, leaving Rex anxious. When the hunt begins, Gwendolen chases after the hounds on horseback. Rex follows but he cannot keep up. The horse slips and hurts itself, throwing Rex from its back. Rex tells his father about the injury to the horse and that he is in love with Gwendolen. This admission concerns Mr. Gascoigne, who tells his son to desist in his pursuit of her. Nevertheless, Mr. Gascoigne arranges to visit Gwendolen the next day to see whether she feels the same way about Rex.

Mr. Gascoigne tells Gwendolen about Rex’s fall. As soon as she knows that Rex is bruised but not badly harmed, Gwendolen jokes about his incident. Gwendolen, through her comments, her demeanor, and her conversation with her mother, is demonstrably not interested in Rex as a romantic partner. Mr. Gascoigne is relieved. He allows Rex to see Gwendolen before the Christmas break is over and he must return to his school. The following day, Rex tells Gwendolen that he loves her. Gwendolen brusquely rejects Rex. She is perturbed by the experience and, when talking to her mother, insists that she will “never love anybody” (68). She claims that she hates people. Hugging her mother, she complains that people are coming too close to her.

Gwendolen’s abrupt rejection makes Rex feel low. He contemplates leaving school and talks to Anna about moving to a remote part of Canada to farm. He proposes the idea to his father. Mr. Gascoigne suggests that his son take a semester away from school, rather than quit. Rex agrees. Anna promises that she will not discuss the matter with Gwendolen, whose behavior she considers awful.

Eight months pass. Sir Hugo Mallinger is the owner of Diplow Hall. He is about to rent to his nephew, Grandcourt, who is presumed by everyone to be the heir to his uncle’s fortune. Sir Hugo does not have any sons of his own, so his property and his title will pass to Grandcourt on his death. Similarly, the maternal side of Grandcourt’s family also offers him the opportunity to become “a baron and peer of this realm” (75). Gwendolen correctly suspects that her mother views Grandcourt as a prospective match for Gwendolen. Though she makes jokes about marriage, Gwendolen continues to insist that she will never get married. She has noticed how Anna treats her with “unfair resentment” since she rejected Rex.

The Archery Club hosts a meeting at the park belonging to Lord Brackenshaw. Gwendolen is happy that she can show off her skills, as well as her beauty. All the local gentry attend the archery event, including Grandcourt. He arrives late and immediately asks about Gwendolen.