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Book 7, Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wings of the Dove, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Class Hierarchy in English Society
Illness and Mortality
Moral Ambiguity and Responsibility
Transactional Relationships
Secrecy, Deception, and Misunderstanding
Summary
Analysis
Back in the present, Milly goes to see Sir Strett before she is set to leave London. During the appointment, Milly tells Strett that she and Mrs. Stringham are headed to Venice. Strett says this is fortuitous, as he’s going to spend his next vacation in Venice as well, so he’ll plan to see Milly there. Milly then says that Kate and Maud will be joining her and Mrs. Stringham for the trip. And, Milly says, a man will also be accompanying them.
Again, though Strett hasn’t detailed exactly what Milly’s illness is, he’s made it clear that Milly must leave London for her recovery, underlining how serious that illness is. Milly’s mention that a man (namely, Merton) will be accompanying them on the trip to Venice again shows how deeply Milly hopes that she and Merton will become romantically involved.
Themes
Milly tells Strett that the man’s name is Merton and that he’s terribly in love with Kate, but Kate doesn’t love him back. Milly then says that she quite likes Merton and hopes she might have a chance to be with him romantically. Strett says that if there’s anything he can do to help—either medically or emotionally—to let him know. Milly says that unfortunately, with regard to Merton, there’s nothing Strett can do to help.
Strett’s disposition, and his offer to help Milly in personal as well as medical matters if he can, again points to the idea that while Strett seems to be being secretive about Milly’s illness, he also seems to genuinely want what is best for Milly and isn’t using those secretive tactics for selfish reasons.
Themes
