Clove-Carnations

Clove-carnations are what the Duchess deems more important than helping the chaplain or giving him more nuanced attention than immediately denying this request. The Duchess feels she must discuss the carnations with the gardener’s boy, Antonio; this information is given in such a way that makes the Duchess seem distracted, self-centered and unaware of the feelings of others. The clove-carnations are mentioned twice, both directly after her conversation with the chaplain.

“Call me Antonio, the gardener’s boy, to the box-garden; I’ve a word to say to him about the new clove-carnations. . .”[1]

“However that may be, the Duchess, when she dismissed him, was seen running to the garden, where she talked earnestly with the boy Antonio about the new clove-carnations; and the rest of the day she sat indoors and played sweetly on the virginal.”[2]

Carnations represent women and love[3], shining a light on how at odds the Duchess and chaplain are due to their personalities and how the Duchess focuses on both on her love affair and the love for herself, bordering at times on vanity, she has rather than dealing with the issues at hand.

[1] Wharton 1901, p. 10

[2] Wharton 1901, p. 10/11

[3] Boeckmann 2019