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The Uncalled · Theme

Love and Control

How The Uncalled develops Love and Control.

Relationships in the novel, such as Fred's with Elizabeth and Miss Prime, are often marked by control rather than genuine affection, with love used as a tool for manipulation or conformity.

Where it surfaces

  • VII

    Miss Prime and Rev. Simpson attempt to control Fred's spiritual and emotional life through religious pressure, while Fred's love for Elizabeth offers a counterforce of genuine feeling and personal growth.

  • VIII

    Eliphalet's unrequited love for Miss Prime is intertwined with her desire for independence and control over her own life and Fred's future.

  • Chapter X

    Fred's love for Elizabeth is a softening influence, but her adherence to her father's views creates tension and control over his behavior.

  • XIV

    Mrs. Hodges' love for Fred is intertwined with her pride and control; his leaving reveals the fragility of a love built on expectation.

  • XVII

    Fred's relationship with Alice is portrayed as freeing and nurturing, contrasting with his earlier, more constrained feelings for Elizabeth.