When Hartwright first enters Mrs. Catherick’s house, he describes that “On the largest table, in the middle of the room, stood a smart Bible, placed exactly in the center” (484). This large size of this bible and its placement in the center of the room on a special table implies that it has intentionally been set up in order to be as noticeable as possible. Further, Mrs. Catherick brings up this bible when she feels Hartwright has insulted her reputation, saying “Is your mother alive? Has she got a better Bible on her table than I have got on mine?” (488). By emphasizing her bible in this context, Mrs. Catherick uses her supposed faith as a way of defending her reputation. She specifically depicts herself as being more religious than other women by comparing herself to Hartwright’s mother. Through her claim that she is a more religious woman because of the quality and size of her bible, Collins implies that a person is often judged more on the showiness and appearance of their religious beliefs rather than their actual faith and morals.
Ironically, Mrs. Catherick actually strays from most Christian ideals. She is incredibly selfish and cares little for other people other than herself, hardly even showing any care for her daughter’s death (she just puts on black mittens– a performative action). Her taking Anne away from Mrs. Clements even demonstrates a more active type of wickedness (her sole motivation being a whim of jealousy). Her desire for Sir Percival’s gifts indicate that she is very greedy and materially motivated. She is depicted to be very sensual, both in appearance and in her actions (her affair). Her betrayal of her marriage (not just to any man, but to a clergyman) emphasizes her betrayal of the church and its teachings. Interestingly, Hartwright also describes Mrs. Catherick’s hatred with serpent-like language (“serpent-hatred,” “lurking reptile”), evoking images of the original biblical, sinful woman, Eve.
Through Mrs. Catherick’s immorality (but presentation as a religious woman), Collins suggests that religion is often used performatively to enhance one’s reputation, and can be treated as just another societally constructed way to judge people (especially women).
Oddly enough, Walter recognizes the prettiness of the Bible upon his first description, already impressed by its showiness or perhaps just struck by how much it stands out: he calls it a “smart” Bible, a compliment to its appearance. This further emphasizes what you refer to with Collins purposefully planting the Bible as an element of Mrs. Catherick’s character. It does not come up only once in the interaction, when she refers to it herself, but is one of the first things that Walter notices. Your mention of the serpent-like imagery, as well, is interesting. It made me wonder if perhaps any religious imagery or symbols were associated with Walter, who is supposed to be the “right-of-heart” man of the novel. While none comes to mind and I cannot find any in my annotations, this may actually be quite interesting to your point of Collins critiquing performative Christianity: the Victorian public in general during this time was increasingly suspicious of Christianity as an institution and faith as compared to years before, despite Christianity still being very widespread, and increasingly interested in the sciences. Was Collins drawing upon this suspicion, or experiencing it? Or is Walter’s compliment about the Bible an indication, rather, that he is still quite “normative,” even in general faith?
This is a really cool point to make! I felt like throughout the novel there were not many explicit religious undertones (which I was quite surprised then reminded myself it was the Victorian era), but I really like your reading of this passage! And I agree, Mrs. Cathrick is not the most “Christian-wholesome-woman”, so pairing the Bible with her may have been intentional by Collins?
I loved this reading about the Bible and suggesting Anne Catherick as a Religious Woman. I wonder if then Collins is religious personally and if that had any effects on his writing choices. She claims to be more religious than other women, even touching on a sensitive subject for Hartwright– presumably, his dead mother. Here, Catherick implies that she is alive through faith even though the Institutional systems of marriage, including law, keep her trapped and confined. This reading particularly elucidates the ghostly presence of Laura and Anne and how they merge with each other. I strongly believe Anne was trying to get Hartwright to put his heart in the right place and understand the systems of representation embodied in the government that hurt all women, religious or not.