The Everglots desire their daughter, Victoria, to marry primarily to avert their dire financial situation and rescue the family from bankruptcy.
The Desperate Need for Wealth
The Everglot family, particularly Maudeline Everglot, finds itself on the brink of financial ruin. Their social standing, while seemingly respectable, masks a severe lack of funds. A strategic marriage for Victoria is viewed as the only viable solution to secure their future and restore their fortunes.
This arranged union with the wealthy Van Dort family is not driven by love or Victoria's happiness, but by a calculated need for the Van Dorts' substantial wealth.
Key Motivations Behind the Marriage:
- Avoiding Bankruptcy: The most pressing reason is to prevent the Everglots from becoming completely impoverished and losing their societal status.
- Securing Financial Stability: The marriage is a means to gain access to the Van Dort family's considerable assets, ensuring the Everglots' financial survival.
- Maintaining Social Standing: While money is the immediate concern, maintaining appearances and their position within high society is also crucial. A wealthy son-in-law helps uphold their facade of prosperity.
Maudeline's Perspective
Maudeline Everglot exemplifies the family's pragmatic and somewhat cold approach to the marriage. Her character reveals a strong preference for financial security over her daughter's emotional well-being.
| Aspect of Motivation | Description |
|---|---|
| Primary Goal | To secure the family's financial future and prevent bankruptcy. |
| Parental Love | Maudeline shows very little genuine affection or respect for Victoria, prioritizing the family's wealth. |
| Marriage Nature | An arranged match, with little regard for Victoria's personal desires or potential unhappiness. |
For Maudeline, the marriage is a transaction, a necessary sacrifice to save herself and the family name from destitution, even if it means forcing her daughter into a potentially unhappy union.
The Arranged Marriage Solution
The alliance with the Van Dort family, who are "new money" but possess vast wealth from their fish canning business, represents the Everglots' only pathway out of their financial woes. The marriage of Victoria to Victor Van Dort is therefore a critical strategy, intended to bridge the gap between the Everglots' declining aristocratic status and the Van Dorts' burgeoning industrial fortune.
