The central theme of the novel is the sexual jealousy of Louis Trevelyan who unjustly accuses his wife Emily of a liaison with a friend of her father's. As his suspicion deepens into madness, Trollope gives us a profound psychological study in which Louis' obsessive delirium is comparable to the tormented figure of Othello, tragically flawed by self-deception. Against the disintegration of the Trevelyans' marriage, a lively cast of characters explore the ideas of female emancipation and how to distinguish between obedience and subjection. Although himself no supporter of women's rights, in this novel some of Trollope's most spirited characters are single women.
Important places
Baker Street (126)Exeter (65)
Florence (542)
London (7,094)
Regions
Devon (364)Firenze (569)
Westminster (148)
Countries
United Kingdom (21,421)Italy (5,202)
Other geographical areas
Tuscany (837)South West (2,602)
Yorkshire and The Humber (6,115)
North of England (7,026)
Southern Europe (7,123)
Greater London (7,856)