58 pages • 1 hour read
William GodwinA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Volume 1, Chapters 1-2
Volume 1, Chapters 3-4
Volume 1, Chapters 5-6
Volume 1, Chapters 7-8
Volume 1, Chapters 9-10
Volume 1, Chapters 11-12
Volume 2, Chapters 1-2
Volume 2, Chapters 3-4
Volume 2, Chapters 5-6
Volume 2, Chapters 7-8
Volume 2, Chapters 9-10
Volume 2, Chapters 11-12
Volume 2, Chapters 13-14
Volume 3, Chapters 1-2
Volume 3, Chapters 3-4
Volume 3, Chapters 5-6
Volume 3, Chapters 7-8
Volume 3, Chapters 9-10
Volume 3, Chapters 11-12
Volume 3, Chapters 13-15
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
Caleb’s first idea is to flee to London because, although he has secured Forester’s help, he wants to save this as a “last resource” (238). After three hours, he arrives at a small town where he can take a coach to a bigger city, but it won’t come until the day after next. As Caleb approaches the inn, a man rides past him; soon after he hears a horse come up behind him again, so he slows down to let him pass and realizes it is the same man from earlier now heading back into town (241). The man rides up to him and asks if his name is Williams. Caleb says he knows why the man is there but that he will never go back to Ferdinando’s. The man says he is just there to deliver a letter.
The letter is from Mr. Forester and explains that Ferdinando has people looking for Caleb: If Caleb is innocent of Ferdinando’s charges, then he will return to town and clear his name. If Caleb does this, then Mr. Forester will help him (242). Caleb returns to Ferdinando’s home and meets him in the morning. Mr. Forester says that when he saw Ferdinando, he told him that he’d better have something tangible against Caleb. He tells Caleb that he does not know what the charges are, but regardless, Caleb must use the truth to clear his name (245-46). After this conversation, Caleb is taken to the library to meet with Ferdinando.
Ferdinando says that he suspects that Caleb robbed him of 900 pounds of bank notes, three gold repeaters, a set of diamonds, and more (247). Mr. Forester asks for evidence, and Ferdinando says that he saw Caleb near the chest during the fire. Forester asks if Caleb explained why he was there, and Ferdinando says that Caleb claimed he was helping to remove valuables (248). Ferdinando says that when he discovered the missing items later that night, he confronted Caleb, who denied knowing anything about it. He says that the reason he told Caleb to stop talking to Mr. Forester was because he thought Caleb would try to steal from him too. Ferdinando calls in Robert, his valet, to back up his story about Caleb looking guilty, and the man confirms it (250).
Caleb happily tells Ferdinando’s servants where he concealed his possessions to prove that he is not hiding anything; however, in one of his boxes, they find the missing things. In a panic to clear his name, Caleb questions why he would leave stolen goods behind and also reveal their location (251). Mr. Forester doesn’t believe him, but Caleb insists that he is innocent. Caleb calls on Ferdinando as further evidence, asking why he would leave a letter asking to be released if he had stolen from Ferdinando. Caleb then shows a copy of the letter he left Ferdinando, but Ferdinando denies ever having a conversation about or even receiving it.
Caleb cannot explain how the stolen items got into his hiding place and that there is more to his story that he cannot confess. He begs Mr. Forester to act justly, saying that a guilty decision would ruin his life. Mr. Forester’s advice is that Caleb defend himself as best he can in court, but not in a way that attacks his master. Caleb is then taken into custody to await trial. On the way he meets Thomas, who refuses to speak to him, believing him guilty (258).
The use of the letter as a plot device features again in these chapters as Caleb receives news from Mr. Forester. It brings Caleb back to town after he manages to escape, and it helps to further the conflict between Caleb and Ferdinando.
Letters appear again when Caleb is trying to defend himself from Falkland, but in a different way. The letter does not provide undeniable proof of Caleb’s innocence because Ferdinando is able to say that he has never read the letter, and there is no way to prove that he has. It is simply Caleb’s word against Ferdinando, and as Mr. Forester pointed out, it would not go over well if Caleb described Ferdinando in a negative way in front of the court.
Pride is a large motivator when it comes to the actions of many of the men in the novel. Caleb chooses to go back to town simply because he cannot stand the idea that he will be seen as guilty of something he did not do. This pride contributes to his downfall.
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