Essay Questions

Why are the Mortmain family in such dire financial straits?

The Mortmains are suffering a fall in financial fortunes for two reasons; firstly, this is something that many English upper middle class families were experiencing at the time; families such as theirs were forced to sell off heirlooms, and then to sell off furniture and other possessions in order to buy food. Their homes were also falling into disrepair because they no longer had the finances to maintain them.

However, another problem for the Mortmains is Mr Mortmain's writers' block. He is a writer of some note, having hit it big with his debut novel, a strange, modernist volume that sold well both in England and America. He has yet to follow it up with anything and has actually gone twelve years without publishing a single thing, which of course is not bringing in any money to the family at all. It is difficult to see how an artists' model and a non-writing writer can bring in anywhere near enough money to support a family of six people, hence their poverty.

Why does Cassandra decide to wait until Simon returns from America before encouraging his feelings?

Cassandra is in love with Sinon but she is also afraid that he is still in love with Rose. This is partly his fault, because he was so clearly emotionally suffering when his brother and his fiance eloped. This makes Cassandra realize that although he has been falling in love with her he had deep feelings for her sister and is going to take some time to heal.

She also knows that he is going to return from America, and so she will have another chance to tell him that she loves him when he gets back. This seems safer to her than telling him how she feels prior to his trip, especially if she has read his feelings wrongly and is mistaken about his intention to propose.