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Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Daniel Deronda, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Judaism and Zionism
Marriage, Gender, and Control
Familial Duty
Wealth and Social Class
Summary
Analysis
The letter Gwendolen receives is from her mother, Fanny Davilow, and it reveals that their family has been financially ruined due to the collapse of a business. The family’s estate, Offendene, must be sold, leaving them dependent on relatives for survival. Her mother pleads for Gwendolen to return home immediately, as there is no money left to support her abroad. This shocking news shatters Gwendolen’s belief in her secure, privileged future.
The Davilow family’s financial collapse disrupts Gwendolen’s life completely, forcing her to abandon the illusion of stability. Her reliance on wealth and privilege is exposed, showing how central they are to her identity. The letter from her mother brings an immediate sense of urgency, pulling Gwendolen away from her usual self-assurance and placing her in a vulnerable position where she must confront her new reality.
Themes
Initially, Gwendolen considers returning to the roulette table to win back her losses and secure funds for her family. She decides instead to sell a valuable turquoise necklace, a discreet solution that avoids raising suspicion among her companions, the Langens. Early the next morning, she walks to a jeweler’s shop, successfully pawns the necklace, and plans to leave for home that evening.
Gwendolen’s decision to pawn her necklace instead of gambling again shows her adaptability and determination to maintain some control over her situation. While she considers gambling to solve her problem, she ultimately chooses a more measured approach. By pawning the necklace, she demonstrates practicality and a willingness to take decisive action in the face of adversity, even if it means parting with a valuable possession.
Themes
Before Gwendolen can return home, she receives an unexpected package: the necklace she sold, returned anonymously with a note from a stranger urging her not to risk losing it again. Gwendolen quickly deduces that the sender is Daniel, whom she believes saw her at the shop and repurchased the necklace. This act humiliates her, as she thinks it makes her look desperate. Furthermore, she now feels as though she is indebted to Daniel. As such, she resolves to leave immediately, avoiding any further interaction with Daniel. Without delay, Gwendolen departs Leubronn that evening. By Saturday morning, she arrives at Offendene, ready to face the drastic changes awaiting her and her family.
When the necklace is returned, Gwendolen feels humiliated rather than grateful, interpreting the gesture as a critique of her actions. Believing Daniel to be the one responsible, she becomes resentful of the perceived intrusion into her private struggle. This moment deepens her discomfort with being in someone else’s debt and reinforces her desire to escape. Her quick departure for Offendene marks a shift in her life, as she prepares to face the challenges of her family’s new circumstances.
Themes
