The Woman in White · Chapter
II: The Narrative of the Doctor explained
The chapter presents a death certificate for Lady Glyde, signed by Alfred Goodricke, stating she died on July 25, 1850, at No.
What happens
The chapter presents a death certificate for Lady Glyde, signed by Alfred Goodricke, stating she died on July 25, 1850, at No. 5 Forest Road, St. John's Wood, from an aneurism.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because the narrator experiences a psychological crisis of paralysis, u…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Deception and Trust
The death certificate presents a seemingly official record, but its accuracy is suspect given the broader conspiracy surrounding Laura's identity.
- Law and Justice
The certificate is a legal document that may be used to falsely establish Laura's death, highlighting the manipulation of legal systems.
Characters to notice
- Laura Fairlie
Listed as Lady Glyde on the death certificate; reported deceased at age twenty-one.
- Goodricke
The doctor who certified the death of Lady Glyde, signing the official certificate.
Key passages
“I hereby certify that I attended Lady Glyde, aged Twenty-One last Birthday; that I last saw her on Thursday the 25th July 1850; that she died on the same day at No. 5 Forest Road, St. John’s Wood, and that the cause of her death was aneurism.”
I, Alfred Goodricke, confirm that I treated Lady Glyde, who was twenty-one years old, saw her for the last time on July 25, 1850, and that she died that same day at 5 Forest Road, St. John's Wood, due to an aneurism.
The doctor's official statement certifying the death of Lady Glyde.
