I am certain Mr. Casaubon’s character will occupy many of my thoughts, therefore I must bring attention to his incredibly dull letter asking Dorthea for marriage.  I understand Dorthea and her childlike naïveté will bring elements of both hilarity and horror in her choices, but this letter should make her run like her hair is on fire.  Cold and reserved does not describe this letter accurately, there is more emotion in a job offer for an undertaker.

The attempt of flattery is astounding as Mr. Casaubon attempts to relate his admiration to Dorthea with a long and complicated sentence.  She has allowed his “observation” and “impression” to “emphatically” convince him of her “fitness” where she can ease the “consciousness…need” (pg. 43).  His letter of declaration of admiration is bland and unemotional, similar to reading your car’s owner’s manual.  How this letter sends the poor child to the floor with so much unrestrained emotion where she cannot even pray still amazes me.  Dorthea read the letter greedily and quickly, she missed many of the warnings that Mr. Casaubon supplies her.

Devoid of any obvious emotion, Mr. Casaubon moves to remind Dorthea about what he expects in a companion.    Plainly stating to Dorthea that he is looking for a woman who must have the “capability of devotedness”, Mr. Casaubon is not seeking a mental equal, but a common housekeeper that talks to him when he is lonely (pg. 43).  In addition, Mr. Casaubon gives fair warning to Dorthea on these intentions referencing to their time spent together where he believes, and we are to assume as readers, that she understands their future life together.  Boldly stating that he has “made sufficiently clear to [her] the tenor of [his] life and purposes,” Mr. Casaubon continues to reinforce the fact that he is looking for a person who understands that he will live and study just as usual (pg. 43).

Granted, Casaubon does compliment her with “mental qualities”, but that is the only positive item that he has given her other than what she will do for him (pg. 43).  Dorthea is missing the point when he tells her that he is looking for her to “cast charms over vacant hours (pg. 44).  This is not a statement that says he will sweep her away on a cloud of love, it says that he will take on a bride but continue to work and study as he always have and devote attention to her only when he finds it convenient.   I cannot hold Mr. Casaubon in contempt for not being upfront and honest as his letter clearly indicates the reasons why he choose Dorthea and what her purpose would be.

Obviously Dorthea has interesting ideas regarding what her life will be like with Mr. Casaubon.  Her afternoon spent fantasizing about her future with Mr. Casaubon and presumes it would be equivalent to “marrying Pascal.” (pg. 19)  Plainly stated, Mr. Casaubon is approving her, and could very well live alone with no issue, but because he does not find her offensive and she appears to want to be devoted to him, he will provide her with financial security, faithfulness and some affection (pg. 44).  Dorthea is clearly looking to marry out of what she believes is love, but Casaubon is really looking for a caregiver, not a wife that he will companion.  Assuming Dorthea’s fantasies inhibit her from seeing the scope of her decision, Mr. Casaubon’s warnings and cautions from other people, the readers will wait with baited breath as this dramatic irony unfolds.

Vickie Culpepper