Essay Questions

Is Frank justified to disobey his parents when he decides to go against their wishes to marry Mary?

One of the most important commandments in the Bible is that children must obey their parents if they want to live long on Earth. Frank finds himself in a major conflict with his parents when they command him to marry a woman from a rich family, even if he does not love her. Despite Frank knowing that he is responsible for obeying his parents, he questions their wisdom in their decision to discourage him from marrying a woman he loves. Frank is in love with Mary, a poor woman, and is ready to settle with her. However, Frank's parents do not want him to marry Mary because she is poor. After careful consideration, Frank decides to marry Mary despite the opposition from his parents.

The author of this novel suggests that readers should follow the commands of their parents, but not blindly. Consequently, Frank is justified in disobeying his parents because they do not have good intentions in his marriage. The parents want Frank to marry a rich woman to bail them out of their financial difficulties. Therefore, the parents are not interested in their son's happiness because they want to satisfy their selfish interests.

How does Anthony Trollope depict Mr. Rodger as a paradoxical character in the novel?

Most societies consider children born out of wedlock illegitimate, but they do little to look for their biological parents. In the novel, The Barsetshire Chronicles: Doctor Thorne, Mary is the biological daughter of Mr. Rodger. However, she was born out of wedlock, making her an illegitimate child. The primary paradox is that Mr. Rodger is not bothered about the well-being of Mary. Mary is under the care of her uncle, Dr. Thorne. Instead of Mr. Rodger making an effort to put aside some of his wealth for Mary, he spends his days living luxuriously and drinking alcohol in opulent clubs. Being an illegitimate child is not a crime, and society should shift from a medieval mindset and ensure people like Mr. Rodger take up their parental responsibilities.

How does Anthony Trollope develop the theme of societal class in the novel The Barsetshire Chronicles: Doctor Thorne?

In ancient England, families lived in different locations according to their societal class. For instance, the middle class concentrated in specific areas, unlike the upper and lower classes. In the novel, the author focuses on Frank's family, who lives in an upper-class suburb. The other prominent families living in upper-class suburban areas include Dr. Thorne and Mr. Rodgers. Most people living in upper-class areas are successful businesspersons and those with well-paying careers. Lower-class families are isolated and cannot intermarry with middle- and upper-class families. When Frank tries to marry Mary, a woman from a low-income family, his parents oppose the marriage.