A study of Henry's love in Thackeray's Henry Esmond is the theme of
this thesis. In this thesis, the writer wants to analyze Henry's feeling for Rachel
and Henry's feeling toward Beatrix, and why he finally chooses Rachel to be
married and not Beatrix. In the analysis, the writer compares Henry's love for
Rachel and Henry's love toward Beatrix. Henry's feeling for these two persons is
unique because they are mother and daughter, Rachel is the mother while Beatrix
is her daughter. Rachel is Lord Francis' wife, the fourth Viscount. In order to
analyze Heniy's love development for Rachel, the writer uses literary theories of
characterization and psychological theories of love. Finally, the writer concludes
that Henry's love for Rachel develops while Henry's love for Beatrix is only an
infatuation and a sublimation of his love toward Rachel because he is refused by
Rachel. At last the most important finding that the writer gets is that love cannot
be based on age, wealth or fame.