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Chapter 28
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
At Offendene, Grandcourt tells Gwendolen that she and Mrs. Davilow should visit Diplow the following day. He explains that it is the only available day since he will be hunting and then traveling briefly. Gwendolen initially resists the plan with playful defiance but agrees when Grandcourt offers to shorten his trip. She enjoys the subtle power she holds over him but is also reminded that she cannot dismiss him as she once did with Rex. Their conversation turns flirtatious, with Grandcourt testing her reactions and Gwendolen deflecting his advances with a mix of teasing and restraint. She feels a moment of unease, realizing how much she has received from him and how firmly she is now bound to him.
Gwendolen’s playful resistance to Grandcourt’s plans at Offendene masks a deeper shift in their power dynamic. She still enjoys the illusion of control, savoring the way he accommodates her wishes. However, the moment she recognizes that she can no longer dismiss him as she did Rex, the reality of her situation becomes clearer. She has already accepted too much from him to walk away easily. Their flirtation, though light on the surface, is a test of boundaries, with Grandcourt asserting control through subtle advances and Gwendolen maintaining a fragile sense of independence.
Themes
The next day, Gwendolen rides to Diplow. At lunch, Grandcourt introduces her to Daniel, who reminds her of their brief encounter at Leubronn. Gwendolen is keenly aware of Daniel’s presence and becomes uneasy under his steady gaze. She brings up her gambling losses, attributing them to his disapproving presence, but Daniel denies making any judgment. Their interaction unsettles her, as his manner carries an authority that makes her question herself. Later, she learns from her mother that Daniel is rumored to be Sir Hugo Mallinger’s illegitimate son. The idea of Daniel as a dispossessed heir lingers in her mind, adding to her guilt over her own impending marriage.
Daniel’s presence at Diplow unsettles Gwendolen in a way that no one else’s does. His steady gaze and quiet authority force her to examine herself, making her more self-conscious than she expected. Their conversation about her gambling losses exposes her discomfort, not because he condemns her, but because he refuses to engage on her terms. When she later learns of his rumored illegitimacy, she fixates on the idea of him as a dispossessed heir, connecting his uncertain status to her own moral unease. His presence lingers in her mind as an unspoken challenge to the choices she is making.
Themes
The next morning, Gwendolen joins a hunting party where Daniel is present. Though focused on the ride, she becomes increasingly restless, knowing he will soon leave Diplow. As the hunt ends, she abruptly stops her horse and waves Grandcourt ahead, demanding a private word with Daniel. She questions him about his disapproval of her gambling, and he explains that he has a general distaste for profiting from others’ losses. Gwendolen presses him on why her actions troubled him more as a woman, and he responds that men need women to be better than they are. She playfully suggests that men should be better too, but his earnestness unsettles her. Rejoining Grandcourt, she shares the gist of her conversation with Daniel, though she downplays its significance. Feigning indifference, Grandcourt escorts her back to Offendene before setting off for his trip to Gadsmere.
During the hunt, Gwendolen’s need for Daniel’s approval escalates. She breaks away from Grandcourt to confront him directly, seeking an explanation for his earlier disapproval. Daniel’s response, that women should be better than men, unsettles her because it places a responsibility on her that she has never fully considered. Her playful deflection—suggesting men should also be better—does not shake his seriousness. Though she downplays their conversation when recounting it to Grandcourt, her decision to bring it up at all suggests that Daniel’s words have left an impression. As Grandcourt departs for Gadsmere, Gwendolen remains caught between the security he offers and the doubts that Daniel’s presence stir within her.
Themes
