Finding Oneself

Through the characters of Monty and Felicity, in particular, the author demonstrates the importance of embracing oneself, rather than trying to live by someone else's expectations.

Monty exemplifies the theme more than anyone. It is clear at the beginning of the novel the amount of pressure Monty is under. When his father sends him off on the Grand Tour, he tells Monty, “When you return home, we’ll start in on the estate work. Together. You’ll come to London with me and observe the duties of a lord there. And if you can’t return to us mature enough for that, then don’t come back at all” (22). Furthermore, Monty’s father condemns Monty for his personality and bisexuality. This is something that tears Monty apart for years. As he tells Percy after Monty’s father beats him for finding Monty’s love letters...