It is unfortunate, therefore, that Trollope ultimately reduces her to wifely submission when she finally does remarry: Eleanor shows dignity, courage, and spirit beyond that permitted to many Victorian heroines. Independently wealthy, she is “fair game to be hunted down by hungry gentlemen”, but bats them away vigorously, refusing to accept that she should be grateful for proposals from importunate suitors. It takes a hard slap in the face from Eleanor to convince him that his attentions are unwelcome.Įleanor Bold is one of Trollope’s strongest female characters. Slope is no match for her, or indeed for any of the other formidable women he attempts to conquer. Although permanently crippled by her estranged husband, Madeline proves irresistible to the men of Barchester, much to the disgust of their womenfolk, and uses her power to deadly and comic effect. He has his evil eye on Eleanor Bold, the recently widowed and wealthy daughter of Septimus Hardy, but is distracted by the specious charms of Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni. Not content with seeking political advantage, Slope also resolves to secure for himself an advantageous marriage, having no mean opinion of his appeal to the opposite sex. Bishop Proudie himself is a study in inertia and simply defers to whichever of the two rivals happens to be in the ascendant.

The confrontations between Mrs Proudie and Slope are brilliantly drawn and sublimely funny. The plot mainly concerns her battles with the ambitious and oleaginous Obadiah Slope, who is determined to bend the Bishop to his will. Mrs Proudie – the “Medea of Barchester” – is perhaps Trollope’s most famous character and one of his finest comic creations. The triumphant candidate is Thomas Proudie, although it is his wife who wears the cassock in their household. The story begins with the death of the Bishop, followed by a great deal of manoeuvering amongst those who seek to fill the much-coveted position. Although readers often struggle with The Warden, their efforts are amply rewarded by Barchester Towers(1857), the next novel in the Barset Chronicles.

The warden barchester towers