Scene IV explained

What happens

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Madness

  The Daughter's intense, irrational love for Palamon drives her to contemplate breaking the law, blurring the line between devotion and madness.

• Gender and Power

  The Daughter's awareness of her low social status and gender highlights the power imbalance in her pursuit of a prince.

Characters to notice

• Daughter

  The Gaoler's Daughter delivers a soliloquy expressing her love for Palamon and her plan to free him.

• Palamon

  Palamon is the object of the Daughter's affection; she describes his noble behavior and sad songs.

Key passages

• “Why should I love this gentleman? ’tis odds He never will affect me: I am base, My father the mean keeper of his prison, And he a prince: to marry him is hopeless, To be his whore is witless.”

  Why do I love this man? It's unlikely he'll ever love me back. I'm lowborn, my father is just a jailer, and he's a prince. Marrying him is impossible, and being his mistress is foolish.

  The Daughter acknowledges the social barriers between her and Palamon.

• “What should I do, to make him know I love him? For I would fain enjoy him say I ventur’d To set him free? what says the law, then? Thus much For law, or kindred! I will do it; And this night or to-morrow he shall love me.”

  What can I do to show him I love him? I want to have him—what if I risk freeing him? To hell with the law and my family! I'll do it, and tonight or tomorrow he will love me.

  The Daughter resolves to free Palamon, disregarding legal and familial consequences.