Supposedly, Charlotte M. Yonge was challenged by a friend to write a story about a hero with a flaw requiring reform who does not triumph through strength or talent, but rather proves his heroism through forbearance and forgiveness. She accepted her friend’s idea and produced in The Heir of Redclyffe one of her era’s most popular novels, enjoying 17 editions in 15 years, easily rivaling works by Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray.

Rather than adopting the traditional approach to romance and shaping a plot around a protagonist less privileged than his antagonist, Yonge created equally well-placed cousins in her main characters, Guy Morville, an orphan since infancy, and his cousin Philip Morville. Philip is the son of Archdeacon Morville, who is brother to Mrs. Edmonstone, wife of Guy’s guardian. Guy is destined to inherit Redclyffe before Philip, and both represent feuding branches of the Morville family. Both have dark aspects to their personalities, but only Guy battles to overcome his—a temptation to gamble. Guy’s grandfather “had such a dread of his going wrong” that he controlled Guy with strict discipline and isolation from others.

Additional characters populate the novel, including Charles, crippled due to a hip problem; Laura, Charlotte, and Amabel, or Amy, Edmonstone; Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone; and Guy’s ne’er-do-well but lovable uncle. Guy loves Amy but will be separated from her due to an unjust accusation by Philip. In an early scene, that disaster is foreshadowed as Philip accidentally breaks the stem from a camellia that Amy brings to the house. She has bragged of its perfect white blossom, and readers understand the flower and its suggestion of purity and innocence represents Amy herself. While Philip does not destroy the bloom, he does damage its support system, predicting his future effect on Amy and Guy.

In the opening scene, the young characters discuss the fact that Mr. Edmonstone has agreed to serve as guardian to Sir Guy Morville’s grandson upon the old man’s death. They provide plot exposition, remarking on the presence of a Redclyffe ghost that was purportedly a murder victim at the mansion. Mrs. Edmonstone states the Redclyffes were always feared, considered a fiery, violent group, with the enmity between brothers perpetuated through many generations.

When Edmonstone first met Guy as a child, he annoyed him by perpetual activity and a continuous whistle, reflecting “buoyant spirits” that his grandfather felt needed checking to avoid his maturing into a hothead as his father had been. Guy and Edmonstone later discuss Philip, who remains quite friendly toward Guy, despite the mythology of family enmity. Edmonstone explains to Guy that Philip, now Captain Morville, gave up his inheritance, including the family estate of Stylehurst, to his two sisters, forgoing an Oxford education to take a military commission instead. His statements help to establish Philip’s high moral character. Guy also elicits favor when he asks Mrs. Edmonstone to treat him as she would her own son, correcting his wrongs. Despite Philip’s open goodwill toward his cousin, he insinuates that he believes young Guy will one day “go wrong,” laying the framework for his later betrayal.

Only Charles eventually can discern Philip’s true manipulative character. As the action builds to Guy’s conflict, Mrs. Edmonstone admonishes him to always face temptation, battling it from within and upholding his moral duty to himself and others, as she encourages him to continue his reading and education. She also supports Philip as a fine young man whose books have helped him tolerate the loneliness caused by his older sisters’ marriages. Guy’s continued flashes of temper bother the young Edmonstones.

The narrator reveals that in telling Guy of his father’s sins, old Sir Guy all but set him on the path of wickedness, as if he suffered from the need to fulfill his grandfather’s prophecy of tragedy despite his sunny disposition. The Edmonstones continue to like Guy and all encourage him when he departs for Oxford. Guy makes a friend in young Wellwood, whose seafaring father had been killed in a duel with old Sir Guy. Mrs. Edmonstone continues to champion her husband’s ward, telling her family, “Never had anyone a greater capacity for happiness than Guy.”

In further action, Philip declares his love for Laura in fear that Guy might do so first. Her genuine attachment to Philip allays his fear that her family might not accept him, despite their friendliness, due to his low financial station. The romantic themes are advanced as Edmonstone’s friend, Lady Eveleen, has designs on Captain Morville, but quickly the plot turns with the appearance of Guy’s uncle, Sebastian Bach Dixon. Dixon, a musician, has lived in America for some time and returns with debts to pay. He convinces Guy to loan him money, and chaos follows.

When Edmonstone questions Guy’s lack of money, Philip, seeing his chance to get rid of Guy, accuses his cousin of gambling. Edmonstone assumes the wicked family ways have gripped Guy, and he sends him away, leaving a heartbroken Amy. During a protracted absence, Guy again gains the favor of his adopted family and marries Amy. His patience and good character seem rewarded, but the novel does not conclude at that point.

When the young couple travel to Italy, they find Philip on the verge of death due to illness. Guy determines to nurse him back to health, despite Philip’s past treachery, and the family curse is broken, with redemption offered all around. However, in a bittersweet conclusion, Guy dies, ironically having contracted Philip’s fever, as if the emotional disease the two had shared has materialized. He leaves behind a pregnant Amy, who gives birth to a girl; as a female, she cannot inherit Redclyffe before any male progeny. Thus, Philip becomes the heir to Redclyffe after all.

Amy finds comfort in the memory of her bright, happy husband, such a contrast to the constantly worried Philip as he adopts his title and responsibilities. Charles also celebrates Guy’s contribution to his own life, one much more fulfilled for Guy’s positive influence. Philip and Laura marry, and to all onlookers appear the happy couple. Philip is seen as prosperous and honored, but in reality, lives a “harassed anxious” existence with “little repose or relief.” The fact that the spoils that have fallen to Philip are “nothing but a burden” to him stands as a cautionary tale to readers. While Philip experiences redemption, it comes with a price for both himself and his loved ones.

Bibliography

Mare, Margaret Laura. Victorian Best-seller: The World of Charlotte M. Yonge. London: G. G. Harrap, 1948.

Sturrock, June. “Heaven and Home”: Charlotte M. Yonge’s Domestic Fiction and the Victorian Debate over Women. Victoria, B.C., Canada: University of Victoria, 1995.

Categories: British Literature, Literature, Novel Analysis

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