The Nebuly Coat · Theme
The Past and Memory
How The Nebuly Coat develops The Past and Memory.
The narrative is steeped in history—both personal and architectural—with characters haunted by past events, such as Sophia's abandonment of her family and the abbey's dissolution, which shape present conflicts.
Where it surfaces
- Chapter IV
Janaway's detailed recollection of the Joliffe family history and the lingering impact of past events on the present.
- Chapter V
Miss Joliffe's attachment to the painting is rooted in family memory—her father's pride, her mother's talent, and the link to a more comfortable past. Sharnall critiques how family loyalty distorts memory and judgment.
- VII
Anastasia's memories of her father Martin Joliffe and his obsession with the nebuly coat connect the present events to the family's past.
- XIX
The bells evoke memories of historical events, and the 'nebuly coat' legend continues to haunt the present.
- XX
Westray's study of Martin's papers and the heraldic window connects the present to the tangled history of the Blandamer and Joliffe families.
- Chapter XXI
The portrait brings the past to life, and Lord Blandamer's memories of his youth and his grandmother's unfinished work highlight the persistence of the past.
- XXII
The portrait of Lord Blandamer's grandfather and the discussion of ancestral property highlight how the past haunts the present and shapes identity.
- Epilogue
The brass plate and reconstruction serve as acts of remembrance for Lord Blandamer's sacrifice.