Falkland, Book III

Name: Falkland, Book III
Author: Edward Bulwer-lytton

Lady Emily Mandeville, married but estranged in feeling from her self-absorbed husband, has fallen into a guilty love with Erasmus Falkland, and her journal records her anguish, joy, and repentance as their affair resumes after a separation. Falkland returns unexpectedly to the neighborhood, and the two meet again at a dinner and ball hosted by Mr. Mandeville, where Emily struggles to conceal her feelings before company. Falkland writes Emily a passionate letter defending their love against the guilt it carries, arguing that shared disgrace only deepens their bond, and admitting he tempts her to a fall from her position and innocence. The narrative explains that Falkland's passion is bound up with older, long-buried memories and feelings revived by this new attachment, and contrasts the singular, engrossing nature of a woman's love with the more divided, cumulative nature of a man's. On a stormy evening, Falkland wanders alone through the wild country near L——, reflecting on nature, fear, age, and the littleness of self amid the elements, rejecting a philosopher's claim that the sublime debases man. He follows a swollen stream onto Mandeville's grounds to the lake associated with his memories of Emily, contemplating the storm as an emblem of his own dark, guilty passion. Returning to the house, Falkland is welcomed by Lady Margaret, whose innocent remark about Emily's fear of lightning embarrasses both lovers before company; he smooths over the moment with charm toward the assembled guests, including his uncle Don Alphonso and Mrs. Dalton, before finally speaking privately with Emily at the harp. Meanwhile, Mrs. St. John and Don Alphonso, watching the lovers, agree to unite in separating Emily from Falkland—she to save her friend, he to reclaim his nephew for the Spanish cause he serves, since Alphonso hopes to use Falkland's wealth and command of Spanish in Spain. The narrator notes Mandeville's total self-absorption and indifference, which, though not excusing Emily, is offered as context for her situation, followed by an authorial reflection condemning adultery as woman's gravest and least excusable sin, addressed as a warning to any woman reader in a like position. That evening Falkland sings a song ("Ah, let us love while yet we may") urging seizing love before time and death destroy it, after Emily, too moved to sing herself, defers to him. The next day, ill and remorseful in Falkland's absence, Emily is visited by Mrs. St. John, who pleads with her to repent while there is still time, invoking their long friendship; Emily weeps and seems resolved to part from Falkland, but upon his return that evening loves him more than ever. During a conversation about immortality and communication with the dead, prompted by Lady Margaret's anecdote of two women who pledged one would return after death, Falkland speaks at length of his youthful, unanswered quest to pierce the mystery of death through study, philosophy, and watching the dying, finding no evidence of survival beyond the grave. Emily, moved, declares she would gladly die to return to him as a sign; Falkland warns such words may be recorded on high. Their eyes meet, and in a moment of passion Falkland embraces her and urges her to be his "wholly and forever"; Emily consents, fearing only that she may become unworthy of his love. Falkland writes again, urging Emily to elope with him within three days to a life of seclusion amid idealized natural beauty, exulting in anticipated happiness. Emily, however, on receiving the letter, feels only renewed remorse and inner conflict between passion and conscience, her attachment to her child in particular pulling her toward duty. That evening her son affectionately greets Falkland, prompting Mrs. St. John's pointed remark, "Judas, too, kissed before he betrayed," which stings Falkland but does not deter him. Mrs. St. John persistently interrupts the lovers' conversation before company, provoking Falkland's irritation, then tells the cautionary tale of an acquaintance who eloped, was later abandoned by her lover, and died of a broken heart after being parted from the child of her first marriage. Mrs. St. John reinforces this with a sung ballad ("And wilt thou leave that happy home") warning a woman against eloping and abandoning her child. Overwhelmed, Emily rises, gives Falkland a look of anguish, and leaves the room; moments later she is found collapsed and apparently lifeless, having broken a blood-vessel. The text provided ends at this point.

By Edward Bulwer-lytton · First published 1834 · Genre: Romanticism, Gothic Fiction, Drama · 8,565 words

First lines

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF LADY EMILY MANDEVILLE.

Friday. -- Julia is here, and so kind! She has not mentioned his name, but she sighed so deeply when she saw my pale and sunken countenance, that I threw myself into her arms and cried like a child. We had no need of other explanation: those tears spoke at once my confession and my repentance. No letter from him for several days! Surely he is not ill! how miserable that thought makes me!

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Falkland, Book III is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edward Bulwer-lytton, dated 1834 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Edward Bulwer-lytton
Date: 1834 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romanticism, Gothic Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Length: 8,565 words
Structure: 1 section, 84 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Romanticism — The book emphasizes emotion, individualism, and the glorification of the past.
Gothic Fiction — It features dark, mysterious settings and explores themes of horror and romance.
Drama — The narrative is driven by intense emotional conflicts and complex character interactions.
Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical context, reflecting the social and political issues of the time.