Family Dynamics and Obligation

Family relationships are central, including the strained marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pett, the father-son bond between Jimmy and Bingley Crocker, and the manipulative control exerted by strong-willed women like Mrs. Pett and Mrs. Crocker over their relatives.

The Pett family grapples with obligations toward troublesome relatives like Jimmy Crocker and Ogden Ford, highlighting tensions between duty and personal preference.

The strained relationship between Mrs. Crocker and her sister Nesta, as well as her control over Bingley and Jimmy, illustrate family obligations and conflicts.

The strained visit between the Pett and Crocker families highlights unresolved familial tensions and obligations.

Jimmy's affection for his father and his remorse over jeopardizing the peerage plan underscore the theme of family obligation.