Of the Club - Part B
How was Sir Roger disappointed in love?
Sir Roger de Coverley's disappointment in love is an important theme in the essays of "The Spectator." In one particular essay, Sir Roger's unrequited love for a widow named Trueby is described. He was disappointed in love by this perverse widow.
He met her for the first time at the age of twenty-three. At the age of twenty-two he came into the inheritance of the family estate. The next year he worked as a judge at the sessions of the local court. At the very first sitting at the session, he saw the beautiful widow. Sir Roger was struck by her beauty and fell in love with her at first sight. He described her using different epithets such as "the beautiful creature", "commanding creature", "the fine widow", "perverse woman" etc.
Sir Roger decided to visit her, to court her and to propose to her. He went to her well-dressed. But the widow was very learned and her philosophical dialogue made him nervous. His nervousness was further increased by the presence of her confidant/companion who supported the widow and made fun of him. Thus, Sir Roger returned disappointed. The widow is a perverse woman who rejoices/cheers in love of men but does not respond to their love.
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