“Not that there could be any reasonable doubt as to the prisoner’s guilt. True, nobody had seen him commit the crime. But he was a poacher of evil character and violent disposition.”
This quote reflects the injustice of the penal system during the second half of the 19th century. The English society was immersed in hypocrisy and social discrimination. For this reason, Westwood, who was an innocent man, was convicted for the murder of Sydney Vane based on no substantial evidence. If he were suspected at all, it was because of his low station in the world. Had he been as rich as the murdered man, his case would have been treated with care, but being a poor man, his fate was neglected and the crime of another was carelessly thrown upon his shoulders.
“You are a woman,” he said harshly, “and as a woman, you may be weak; but I am a man and a soldier, and would die for the honor of my family.”
This quote mirrors the prejudices that were widely spread in the patriarchal society of late 19th century England. General Vane thus accuses his sister of weakness just because she is a woman when, in truth, she is the strongest of the two. Many are the instances in the novel where she takes precautions to insure his wellbeing and health. Not to mention that her insight and decisions are much wiser than his. What is more, the General is entirely fooled and governed by his wife in spite of the superiority he claims as a man.
"Behind the mask of Flossy’s pensive beauty lay a brain as subtle, a will as inflexible, a heart as cold as ever a daring criminal possessed. Nothing daunted or repelled her, and in other circumstances and other times her genius might have made her a mark for the execration of all succeeding ages."
Florence is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. In variance with many a celebrated author, Sergeant chose to develop the psychological traits of all her characters, the antagonists included. Thus, the quoted passage analyses the real depth of Florence and dwells upon her intelligence, beauty, valor, and creativity. These traits make of her a superior creature to all the other characters.
“We meant to be happy because we loved each other... that was what he tried to stop! That was why he killed Sydney Vane – the man I loved – oh, Heaven, the man for whom I would have sold my soul!”
At first sight and all throughout the story, Florence is often mistakenly regarded as a cold and heartless woman. It is at the very end of the novel that such a notion is contradicted by Florence herself when she confesses the immense love she had had for Sydney. Although he was a married man, the pair had fallen in love with one another, and were going to run away together. His death is partly what made of her what she became later. She is not the cruel antagonist of the tale but rather the sad product of her society and the victim of a degenerating system.
"People don’t carry their crime in their face Sabina."
This iconic remark by Florence ironically applies to herself, for under her veil of beauty and luxuriance resides one of the most dangerous minds in the story. However, the quote also reflects the duality spread in late Victorian society. Vice was to be found everywhere, and yet it was concealed under layers and layers of assumed respectability.
