Ch. 47: “In looking down as he dressed he perceived a red stain on the front tails of his shirt. He had forced a virgin...She had not given herself to Varguennes. She had lied. All her conduct, all her motives in Lyme Regis had been based on a lie. ” (354) This quotation is said by the narrator, after Charles and Sarah have sex in her hotel. This quotation shows Sarah’s hunger for freedom from the Victorian society, and is seen as a manipulative individual more so a victim. It also shows Charles’s insecurity of holding less power than women in society. After this quote, it is evident that Sarah lied to Charles about Varguennes taking her virginity away from her, which was the lie that kept her going in life. Her thirst for being free allowed …show more content…
The quotation is significant as it reveals Sarah’s mysterious, manipulative character and her individuality to stand against what society would want women to do, which is to marry and breed. Her unexplainable character is seen as she does not want him to understand her decision, which boggles Charles’s train of thought. Her mysteriousness (the rival) acts as a barrier to further allow Charles to lover her, like he did many months ago, which is her intention exactly, revealing once again, her manipulation through her attractiveness of being mysterious. The rival also confuses readers as to why Sarah is making such a decision, when it is clear that she loves him deeply, displaying her unpredictable character. Though Sarah loves Charles and would rather live with him than anyone else, she realizes that her long fight to finally attain peace and not feel a sense of loneliness has finally been achieved, and does not want to leave that away. She firmly stands for her choice, and unlike Victorian women who like to be taken under the wing of men, she wishes to live independently, showing her individuality against the Victorian society. After the pain she has dealt with the society, she does not want to ruin her sense of peace now, thus showing her side of assertiveness. To conclude, through the quotation, Sarah’s unexplainable, manipulative side, and her strong stand to remain independent are displayed, thus showing readers how unique of a character she in the