Summary of Candida
Act 1
It is a beautiful morning in October in a London suburb. The kind and famous Reverend James Morell, a Christian leader, is working in his office. His secretary, Miss Proserpine Garnett (Prossy), is helping him. Morell is very busy and gives many talks.Lexy, Morell's assistant, arrives late. He is surprised that Morell’s wife, Candida, is coming home early from vacation with their children. Morell praises his wife constantly and tells Lexy that marriage is wonderful. After Morell leaves, Prossy tells Lexy she is tired of Morell's praise for Candida. Lexy defends Candida, but Prossy accuses him of thinking she is jealous.Mr. Burgess, Candida’s father, arrives. He and Morell do not like each other and have not spoken in three years. They start fighting about an old argument. Morell had criticized Burgess for paying his factory workers very little money. Burgess recently raised the wages, but Morell thinks he only did it for a business deal, not because he truly changed his mind. They eventually stop fighting and agree to be civil.Candida arrives, bringing with her Eugene Marchbanks, an 18-year-old shy poet. Morell had helped Marchbanks the year before. Burgess is excited to meet Marchbanks because he is the nephew of an earl. Burgess leaves. Marchbanks then tells Morell, with deep emotion, that he is in love with Candida. Morell just laughs and says it is a silly crush. Marchbanks argues that Candida's spirit needs more than Morell's empty speeches and church sermons. They fight loudly, and Morell orders Marchbanks to leave. Candida returns and insists that Marchbanks stay for lunch, and he agrees.
Act 2
Marchbanks is alone. Prossy comes in, and Marchbanks starts talking about how hard it is to share deep feelings. Prossy is annoyed but also touched by his talk. She implies that she is in love, and Marchbanks realizes she is in love with Morell. Marchbanks asks how she could love Morell, who he thinks is just full of good intentions and nothing real. Prossy insists that it is possible to love him.Morell comes back and is happy that Prossy was so honest. Marchbanks is shocked that Candida is doing normal chores, like cooking. Candida worries that Morell is working too hard. When they are alone, she tells him that everyone is in love with him, including Prossy. She suggests that her love might be better suited for a man who is not loved by everyone, maybe Marchbanks. Morell is very upset by this idea.Morell had canceled his lecture for that night, just to stay home with Candida and watch Marchbanks. Now, to test both of them, Morell decides to give the lecture after all. He leaves Candida and Marchbanks alone together at home.
Act 3
Candida and Marchbanks sit by the fire. He reads his poetry, but she quickly gets bored. She tells him to stop the poetry and speak his true feelings, without being dramatic or pretending. By the time Morell gets home, Marchbanks still hasn't told Candida he loves her.Marchbanks tells Morell that he is "not worthy" to be with Candida. He praises Candida as a wonderful woman. Morell demands to know what happened while he was gone. Marchbanks says he simply wanted the happiness of being close to her. Morell realizes he still doesn't know how Candida truly feels. Morell fears that if Candida leaves him for the young poet, she will be left without protection. Marchbanks says the opposite is true: Candida wants someone to protect, and that person should be him (Marchbanks).Marchbanks insists that Morell call Candida so she can choose one of them. Candida enters, sees that Morell is distressed, and tells Marchbanks to stop upsetting her husband. She declares, "I will protect him."After a short break where Lexy, Burgess, and Prossy interrupt, Morell insists on the choice. Candida, saying it feels like she is "up for auction," asks both men to make an offer. Morell offers his strength, his ability to provide for her, and his authority as a husband. Marchbanks offers his "weakness" and his honest need for her love.Candida announces that she gives herself "to the weaker of the two." Marchbanks suddenly realizes that she has chosen her husband, Morell.Candida explains her choice. Although Marchbanks is alone in the world, Morell needs her love much more. She says that to Morell, she is like his "mother and three sisters and wife and mother to his children all in one." She makes Morell the boss of the house, but she says he doesn't realize that she is the one truly in charge. She chose Morell because he needs her care more than Marchbanks, who "has learnt to live without happiness."Marchbanks accepts her choice and leaves, saying he has a "secret" in his heart. Candida and Morell happily hug each other.
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