# Unfulfilled Love and Marriage in The Perennial Bachelor

> Theme guide for The Perennial Bachelor by Anne Parrish.

Romantic possibilities are repeatedly thwarted—Maggie loses Edward because she won't leave Victor, Victor loses Lucy, and May's life ends in suicide—showing how love is sacrificed to family duty and social expectations.

## Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/i): Cousin Lizzie's unrequited love for Victor, and her marriage to Sam Blow to spite him.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/ii): Margaret loves Victor but cannot share his passions; Victor loves Margaret but gives up trying to connect intellectually.
- [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/x): Mamma's romantic fantasies about Mr. Lacey contrast with her practical concerns, highlighting the tension between love and security.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xi): Mamma's engagement to Mr. Lacey is broken off, leaving her love unfulfilled and her future uncertain.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xii): May's romantic hopes are tied to Edward Post, but his teasing and her family's interference hint at future disappointment.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xiii): May's anxiety about being left behind and her desperate attempts to attract Edward's attention highlight the theme of unfulfilled love and the pressure to marry.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xiv): Maggie and Edward's engagement is marked by intense emotion and the pain of impending separation, hinting at the challenges ahead.
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xvi): Maggie and Edward's reunion is awkward and fails to meet their expectations, highlighting the gap between romantic fantasy and reality. The promise of marriage is complicated by practical concerns and family duty.
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xviii): May's comment about being an old maid and her flirtation with Prentice highlight the theme of unfulfilled romantic prospects.
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xix): May's brief fantasy of a romantic encounter at the ball underscores her unfulfilled longing for love and a different life.
- [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xx): Victor's unrequited love for Lucy is central, as she initially treats him like a brother and later sends mixed signals, while other suitors like Mr. Thompson and the Honorable Ronald appear.
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxi): Victor's love for Lucy remains unfulfilled as she breaks their engagement to marry a French count, leaving Victor heartbroken.
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxii): Maggie's joy at the wedding is undercut by her unrequited love for Edward, culminating in her painful acceptance that he will never be with her.
- [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxiii): Lily's hopes for Mr. Marshall's courtship remain unfulfilled, and May's mysterious A. J. hints at a potential but uncertain romance.
- [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxiv): Victor's lingering feelings for Lucy Hawthorn and May's uncertain romance with Wadsworth Robinson reflect themes of unfulfilled love and the pressures of marriage.
- [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxv): May's conflicted feelings about Mr. Robinson's proposal and her fabricated romance with Captain Jermayne highlight the theme of unfulfilled love.
- [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxvii): May's unrequited feelings for the plumber and her accusations about Victor preventing marriages underscore this theme.
- [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxix): Victor's lingering feelings for Lucy Hawthorn and his never marrying, along with Maggie's broken engagement, highlight the theme of unfulfilled love.
- [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perennial_bachelor_se/chapters/xxxii): Victor's romantic expectations of Lucy are dashed, leaving him with a sense of loss and complacency.

## Links

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