# Family Sacrifice and Duty in The Perennial Bachelor

> Theme guide for The Perennial Bachelor by Anne Parrish.

The Campion sisters, especially Maggie, sacrifice their own lives, ambitions, and chances at marriage to care for their brother Victor, prioritizing his needs above their own to the point of personal ruin.

## Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/i): Mamma's duty to provide a son, her pregnancies and losses, and the family's anticipation of Papa's return.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/iii): Mamma offers to save money by fixing her old hoops so Papa can have his horse, and the children give homemade gifts, showing familial devotion.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/iv): Mamma's devotion to Victor's memory and her focus on the baby as the new center of the family.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xiv): Mamma and Maggie take on more household chores after letting staff go, showing the family's sacrifice due to financial decline.
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xvi): Maggie is torn between her desire to marry Edward and her sense of duty to Victor, who needs her care. Her internal conflict centers on the sacrifice of her own happiness for her family's well-being.
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xvii): May's outburst reveals the deep resentment over the family's sacrifices for Victor's education, highlighting the theme of duty versus personal desire.
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xix): Maggie's entire focus is on Victor's happiness, sacrificing her own desires and resources for his opportunity.
- [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxvii): Maggie's care for May and the family's burden after May's suicide reflect the theme of familial duty.
- [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxix): Maggie broke her engagement to care for Victor, and the family's resources were always spent on him, illustrating the theme of familial duty over personal happiness.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/themes/family_sacrifice_and_duty
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/themes