Villette

Paulina and John have kept their relationship a secret, but Mr. Home is becoming suspicious. Paulina tells Lucy how happy John makes her and asks Lucy if she finds him handsome; Lucy says she does not see him often.

One evening while Lucy is visiting, Mr. Home questions her about John and tells her he does not want to give up his only daughter. Mr. Home would be more willing to give away his niece Ginevra. Paulina enters the room and pleads with her father to bless the engagement. John then arrives to ask for her hand, and, after a private conversation, Mr. Home relents and the two become engaged.

Lucy tells the whole of their story: Paulina and John marry, eventually having one son and some daughters. They find true fulfillment in each other, and marriage makes John a better man. Their life is not without sadness, as both M. de Bassompierre and Louisa Bretton eventually die. Lucy believes that God smiles on certain people, bringing them lifetimes of joy: “[O]ften these are not pampered, selfish beings, but Nature’s elect, harmonious and benign; men and women mild with charity, kind agents of God’s kind attributes” (565). Lucy sees this as God’s will and accepts it.

Lucy describes those to whom God has given lives of anguish and suffering. Lucy hopes she has pleased God by persevering through her trials.

When M. Paul does not show up for literature class, Madame Beck arrives to tell everyone that he is leaving for the West Indies and that another teacher will replace him. Lucy is to fill in temporarily. All the students are emotional, but Lucy hides her disappointment. She is confused because their relationship had been progressing towards what Lucy hoped was marriage: “…the mutual understanding was settling and fixing; feelings of union and hope made themselves profoundly felt in the heart; affection and deep esteem and dawning trust had each fastened its bond” (571).

As M. Paul says his farewells to his students on his final day of teaching, Lucy tries to speak to him but is blocked by Madame Beck. M. Paul sends a letter that he will meet Lucy to explain, but Lucy waits and he never arrives. Lucy stays up all night crying despite Madame Beck insisting that she go to bed. She angrily confronts Madame Beck, accusing her of jealousy and selfishness; Lucy now realizes Madame wants M. Paul for herself. Madame Beck responds by telling her M. Paul cannot marry. Lucy continues her vigil the next night, and Madame Beck sends Ginevra to coax her to bed. When Lucy refuses again, the maid, Goton, gives her a drink laced with a sedative.

The drug causes Lucy to hallucinate. She dresses in disguise, leaves the school, and walks to town. There is a festival celebrating the independence of Labassecour and the entire town is in attendance, including the de Bassompierres, the Brettons, the priest, Madame Walravens, and M. Josef Emmanuel (M. Paul’s half-brother). The town is bustling and alive as Lucy watches the reverie incognito. The town bookseller recognizes her. John also sees and recognizes Lucy, though she gives him a nonverbal cue to keep her identity concealed.