52 pages • 1 hour read
Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth
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Chapters 23-29Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 23 Summary: “A Man May Smile, and Smile and be a Villain”
Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses suicidal thoughts.
Although Montraville is reserved, Julia detects his interest and expresses hers. Montraville loves Julia but does not want to desert pregnant Charlotte. He discusses his situation with Belcour, who encourages Montraville to marry Julia while arguing that Charlotte is to blame for her circumstances: “And do you really […] hesitate at marrying the lovely Julia, and becoming master of her fortune, because a little, foolish, fond girl, chose to leave her friends, and run away with you to America?” (169). Belcour tells Montraville that Charlotte is unfaithful and made advances toward him.
Montraville is sent on duty and does not visit Charlotte for six weeks. When he has time one afternoon, he arrives at the cottage and finds Charlotte in bed with Belcour. He wakes them, and Charlotte, confused, says she does not know why Belcour is in the bed. She admits that Belcour visits her sometimes, but she thought it was at Montraville’s request. Charlotte begs Montraville to kill her rather than question her fidelity, and Montraville says he will provide for her but will not visit her anymore. He pries Charlotte off his legs and leaves.
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