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Chapter 26
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
Gwendolen prepares for Grandcourt’s visit, telling Mrs. Davilow she intends to refuse him, yet her thoughts betray her uncertainty. As she dresses in black, ostensibly for rejection, her mind churns through endless considerations. She recalls her disgust at his past and her instinctive revulsion at Lydia’s situation, yet she also imagines the power she could wield as Grandcourt’s wife.
Gwendolen tells herself she will reject him, yet every moment before the meeting is spent weighing what acceptance might bring. Her disgust at his past still lingers, but the idea of power tempts her. She chooses to wear black, as if to signal her refusal, yet the act of dressing for the occasion already suggests she is preparing for something larger than rejection.
Themes
When Grandcourt arrives, his quiet dominance unsettles her. Their exchange, laced with veiled meanings, offers no direct confrontation. He implies Gwendolen should not let Mrs. Davilow’s financial ruin burden her, subtly offering himself as the solution. A sudden wave of relief washes over her, and for a moment, her scruples fade. Almost without thinking, Gwendolen says “Yes” to Grandcourt’s offer of marriage. Grandcourt does not press her but instead claims his victory with quiet certainty, leaving her feeling both triumphant and trapped.
Grandcourt’s presence erodes Gwendolen’s resistance without force. He does not argue or insist; he simply exists in a way that makes refusal seem unnecessary. His suggestion that she should not let her mother’s suffering burden her does not sound like persuasion, yet it pulls her toward him. The weight of her problems vanishes in an instant, and before she has fully considered it, she accepts. Grandcourt, true to his nature, does not celebrate or press further. His confidence makes it clear that this outcome was inevitable, leaving Gwendolen both victorious and powerless in the same moment.
Themes
With the engagement settled, Gwendolen experiences an immediate shift from powerlessness to powerful. She asserts herself, demanding Grandcourt remove Lush from their lives, and he complies without hesitation, solidifying her sense of control. As she fetches Mrs. Davilow, she presents her decision as final and unquestionable, cutting off questions with the same efficiency that Grandcourt used to corner her into acceptance. Yet beneath her newfound authority, something deeper stirs—an awareness that she has set off down a path and can no longer turn back.
With her engagement secured, Gwendolen seizes her first act of authority by demanding Lush’s removal. Grandcourt grants it without question, reinforcing her belief that she has taken control. She presents her decision to Mrs. Davilow as final, using Grandcourt’s own methods—cold certainty, no room for argument. Yet beneath her confidence, something unsettles her. The moment she secures what she thought she wanted, she senses the limits of her power.
Themes
