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Chapter 47
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
Grandcourt and Gwendolen’s marriage continues to be troubled. In London, Grandcourt enjoys showing off Gwendolen in high society, taking satisfaction in the attention she receives while keeping her under his control. He watches her closely, noticing how often she looks toward Daniel. Instead of directly confronting her, he warns her that women should not seek out certain company or display emotions in public. His condescending remarks make Gwendolen even less confident, though she holds onto her connection with Daniel as her only source of hope.
Grandcourt asserts control over Gwendolen by displaying her in society while restricting her independence. His watchfulness turns her into an object of possession rather than a partner, making his power over her public rather than just private. His condescending warnings show how he manipulates social expectations to stifle her autonomy.
Themes
Gwendolen feels trapped in a life dictated by Grandcourt’s cruelty and indifference. She clings to the belief that Daniel sees her struggle and understands her pain. She asks about hiring Mirah for a party, hoping to follow Daniel’s advice, but Grandcourt seizes the moment to poison her trust. He claims that men see Daniel’s involvement with Mirah as improper. Gwendolen lashes out, calling his words lies, but she later doubts her own certainty. His comment shakes her, making her question whether Daniel is as noble as she believed.
Grandcourt poisons Gwendolen’s trust in Daniel by exploiting societal expectations of male-female relationships. His suggestion that Daniel’s involvement with Mirah is improper forces Gwendolen to confront the limits of her certainty. Her initial reaction—calling his words lies—demonstrates her instinct to resist him, but her later self-doubt shows how easily manipulation works when someone already feels trapped.
Themes
Desperate for reassurance, Gwendolen visits Mirah under the pretense of hiring her to sing, but she needs to hear the truth about Daniel. As soon as she hears his voice in the next room, anxiety takes over. Mirah speaks of Daniel with devotion and gratitude, describing how he saved her and aided her brother. Relief washes over Gwendolen, clearing away her doubts. She leaves abruptly, unable to process her emotions, but Grandcourt waits at home. He demands to know where she went. She answers honestly, meeting his cold sneer with defiance. Without raising his voice, he forbids her from ever visiting that house again, making his control over her absolute.
Gwendolen’s visit to Mirah is not about hiring her but about reclaiming certainty. Hearing Mirah speak about Daniel reaffirms his integrity, temporarily restoring her trust in him. However, her abrupt departure suggests that emotional reassurance is not enough to change her circumstances. Grandcourt’s immediate interrogation reinforces his psychological control. He does not prevent her from acting but ensures she feels the consequences of defying him.
Themes
Grandcourt strengthens his grip by forcing Gwendolen to listen as Lush explains the contents of Grandcourt’s will. She refuses at first, but Grandcourt blocks her escape. He remains calm, making it clear that she has no choice. When Lush presents the details, she learns that Grandcourt plans to leave his estate to his illegitimate son if she has no child. The realization crushes her. He has already replaced her in his mind, reducing her to an inconvenience rather than a wife. She conceals her disgust, refusing to let either man see her emotions. Alone again, she locks the will away without reading further.
Grandcourt forcing Gwendolen to listen to his will being read aloud is another way of exerting power over her. His estate plans confirm that she holds no real place in his life—her role was always temporary, replaceable. Her silent endurance shows that she understands the message he is sending but refuses to let him see her pain. By locking away the will without reading further, she performs an act of defiance, denying him the satisfaction of her reaction.
Themes
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On a solo morning ride, Gwendolen sees Lydia and her children watching from the railing. The sight of Grandcourt’s former mistress shakes her, but he passes without a glance in their direction. Gwendolen almost speaks, wanting to shame him for his callousness, but stops herself. She chose this marriage, so she feels she gave up the right to protest. Gwendolen realizes that Lydia’s fate could be her own. She considers leaving and even imagines Grandcourt’s death, but she recoils at the thought.
Seeing Lydia and her children forces Gwendolen to confront her future. Grandcourt’s indifference toward them serves as a warning: she, too, is disposable. The parallel unsettles her, but she internalizes responsibility for her situation rather than blaming him. Her inability to speak out against him reflects how deeply she feels trapped, and her fleeting thoughts of his death show her growing desperation.
Themes
Gwendolen finally invites Daniel to visit, hoping he can tell her what to do. When he arrives, she struggles to find the right words, then speaks without thinking. She fears becoming worse, growing bitter, losing whatever goodness she has left. She asks him how to change, but Grandcourt enters before he can answer. Daniel leaves without protest, knowing that anything he says could make things worse for her. Gwendolen waits for Grandcourt’s punishment, but he only watches her in silence. The next morning, he announces his plans to sail to the Mediterranean. She feels hopeful, thinking she might stay behind with her mother. However, he announces that she will be going with him.
Gwendolen’s meeting with Daniel exposes her growing fear of losing herself. She does not ask for practical advice but for guidance on how to preserve her goodness. Her phrasing—fearing that she will become worse—shows that she sees moral decay as inevitable if she remains in this marriage. Grandcourt’s silent presence at the end of the scene is more menacing than open confrontation. By announcing the Mediterranean trip the next morning, he reinforces that she is not in control of her own movements.
Themes
