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Chapter 40
Mr Toogood's Ideas about Society

Had conquered him by her charms, and he was now a slave
William Summerkin, the clerk who is engaged to Polly Toogood, is described with this phrase.  The practice of making conquered people become slaves was common in ancient Greece and Rome.  Summerkin is also described as anticipating "matrimonial sacrifice," an image which recalls the many parallels drawn in The Small House at Allington between the engaged Crosbie and a calf prepared for sacrifice.  [EB]

The world has been very heavy on him
This phrase, used by both Mr. Toogood and John Eames discussing Mr. Crawley, may refer to the mythological figure Atlas, a Titan who was punished for rebelling against the gods by being made to hold up the sky for all eternity.  In some Roman and Hellenistic art he is portrayed as holding up the entire globe rather than the sky.  Crawley's self-loathing nature makes him feel as if he, like Atlas, holds up the weight of the world alone.
Cassell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology  [EB]

Chapter 41
Grace Crawley at Home

Of all men most unfortunate
Crawley is described as feeling as though only a madness which would drive him to kill his family was lacking to make him the "most unfortunate" man.  This recalls the tragic fate of the hero Heracles, who killed his wife Megara and their children in a period of madness.  This tale is depicted in Euripides' tragedy Heracles.  [EB]

She was reading Greek to him
Grace immediately begins reading Greek to her father upon her return home to comfort him.  This scene demonstrates Grace's extensive knowledge of classical language and literature.  Crawley also begins to shout out passages from plays, suggesting that he is beginning to recover.  [EB]

It's the outside of them he cares for
Crawley discusses with Grace how Arabin's books are gilded and beautiful in appearance, but that he "doubt[s] if he ever reads."  The description of Arabin's books are a sharp contrast to Crawley's tattered and well-used books, indicating that Crawley has a true interest in the classics, whereas Arabin uses classical knowledge as a sign of status.  [EB]

And the Greek books were again had out
Grace again reads to her father.  He comments that her sister Jane might soon surpass her in her understanding of Greek, illustrating both of the Crawley girls' intellectual achievements.  [EB]

The whole of "Antigone" by heart
Continuing the conversation above, Mr. Crawley comments that he once had memorized this entire play by the Greek author Sophocles, and says that his daughters should compete to see which of them can learn it first.  The use of this play is interesting, since Mr. Crawley is often reminiscent of the tormented, proud, and quick-to-anger protagonists of Sophocles' plays.  [EB & RR]

I cannot read Greek plays to him
Mrs. Crawley, who is unable to read Greek, praises Grace's ability to comfort her father with Greek literature.  This demonstrates the importance of classical learning to Mr. Crawley and his children.  [EB]

Chapter 42
Mr Toogood Travels Professionally

What does the Latin proverb say?  "No one of a sudden becomes most base."
Harding uses this quotation from Juvenal's Satires 2.83 to explain that he does not believe that Crawley, who seems to him to be a virtuous man, would suddenly steal money.  Trollope's use of this phrase is interesting since Harding references its origin in Latin literature, whereas many of the characters in his novels often unwittingly quote or paraphrase classical texts.  [EB]

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