Villette, Chapter 40 summary
Chapter 40 of 42 · 11 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 40, Ginevra disappears from school, and her letter confirms her runaway marriage to Alfred de Hamal while explaining that he impersonates the attic nun. Lucy also recounts Ginevra’s wedding visit and years of letters, which show her relying on others through motherhood, her husband’s debts, and domestic troubles.
What happens
- Ginevra’s absence alarms the school, and Lucy tells Madame Beck that she suspects an elopement.
- M. de Bassompierre pursues the couple but reaches them too late to prevent their marriage.
- Ginevra’s letter identifies Alfred as the disguised nun and explains his secret route into the school.
- Ginevra visits Lucy near her honeymoon’s end, celebrates her dowry, and introduces Alfred, who apologizes for frightening Lucy.
- Alfred leaves military service for an attaché post abroad, while Ginevra maintains irregular correspondence with Lucy.
- Ginevra’s letters describe her son’s illnesses and her husband’s debts, repeatedly seeking sympathy and assistance.
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In this chapter
What to notice
Lucy sums up Ginevra’s persistent reliance on other people. This judgment connects her early triumph over the marriage dispute with her repeated appeals during family difficulties.
Quick check
Who impersonates the nun in the attic?
Cite this page
“Villette, Chapter 40 summary.” Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/pages/villette-chapter-40-summary.
Library of Alexandria. (2026). Villette, Chapter 40 summary. https://libraryofalexandria.com/pages/villette-chapter-40-summary
“Villette, Chapter 40 summary.” Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/pages/villette-chapter-40-summary.
@misc{villette_chapter_40_summary_2026,
title = {Villette, Chapter 40 summary},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/pages/villette-chapter-40-summary}
}
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