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Chapter 29

This chapter provides insight into Casaubon's mindset and his motivations for marriage. He seeks a young and malleable wife like Dorothea, viewing her as ‘educable and submissive’. He desires to have a child out of duty rather than genuine affection. Casaubon feels overwhelmed by the expectations placed upon him, hindering his ability to complete his research and write his book. The author expresses sympathy for him, noting his lack of true passions in life.

We also discover Casaubon's discontent within the marriage. Despite his own lack of passion for Dorothea, he becomes jealous when she receives a platonic letter from Will Ladislaw. He preemptively forbids Ladislaw from visiting, assuming Dorothea would request it. Offended by Casaubon's assumption, Dorothea withdraws, and they continue their work in silence until Casaubon experiences a sudden episode in the library. With the help of Cecilia and Sir James Chettam, a doctor is called, and Lydgate is recommended. Both Chettam and Cecilia privately express sadness over Dorothea's choice of husband.

Chapter 30

Following Casaubon's episode, Lydgate advises him to reduce his workload and manage his anxiety. Mr. Brooke suggests a relaxing hobby for Casaubon. Privately, Lydgate warns Dorothea about the gravity of Casaubon's illness, emphasizing the possibility of his imminent death if he pushes himself too hard. Disturbed by this news, Dorothea attends to external matters, including canceling Ladislaw's planned visit. Although she reads the contentious letters, she finds it difficult to respond and enlists her uncle's help. Mr. Brooke starts his reply to follow Dorothea’s orders but gets overexcited and ends up inviting Ladislaw to stay at Tipton Grange with him when he delivers the painting Casaubon and Dorothea sat for in Rome.

Context and Notes:

• The epigraph of chapter 29 is a quote from 'The Vicar of Wakefield' by Oliver Goldsmith.
• 'Parerga' is a term for secondary works
• William Warburton was Bishop of Gloucester. He wrote about Egyptian hieroglyphs during his lifetime (1698-1779). Casaubon wants to write a secondary work based on new information that corrects some of Warburton’s assertions.
• 'Viros nullo aevo perituros' means ‘men who will never pass away’
• 'Pity, that "newborn babe"... did not "stride the blast" on this occasion' is a reference to Macbeth's soliloquy on pity in Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth'. In this context, it seems that Dorothea, though usually kind and pitying of Casaubon, didn't have pity for him during this argument.
• The epigraph of chapter 30 is a quote Pascal’s ‘Pensees’ and means ‘he (who) would divert(s) himself aimlessly tires of diversion.’