by Susan Ternyey, Oct 2025
Self-Determination—Part 2
Society/culture
Just as not all the limits the Law puts on people’s freedoms are bad, so sometimes one’s society and culture may exert limits that are beneficial to an individual, a family, and a society or culture. Such limits are sometimes positive, sometimes negative.
S1 E4-6
When Elizabeth realizes that she has an illegitimate pregnancy, she is full of tears to Fogarty (the father) that he must marry her. She knows the social ramifications. He keeps putting her off because he doesn’t realize that their intimacy has produced a pregnancy. He wants to wait until he's a captain, given command of a ship, with the attendant financial benefits.
She can’t find the opportunity to tell him, and in the meanwhile, her head is turned by her admirer Albert Frazer. She decides she doesn’t want to marry Fogarty anymore. When Albert proposes they elope, despite her sister-in-law Anne’s counsel, she thinks that she can provide legitimacy to her child by marrying Albert, and that he’ll never know. Eventually that deception will be revealed, and cause great shame to herself, hurt for her husband, drive one of the wedges between them. It will become an embarrassment to admit to her son and a wedge between her and her son as he grows to manhood.
Her brother James bluntly speaks reality to his sister Elizabeth that a woman without her own means or her family support ends up on the streets or the poorhouse (recall that environment from Dicken’s “Oliver”). Her brother Robert is upset because her choices have brought shame on the entire family.
S2 E2-5
Anne is forcefully reminded the hard way that her society disapproves of a woman leaving her husband, disapproves of a woman in certain careers, disapproves of women bothering their heads with figuring. She had already found that men did not want to have a woman in a position of authority over them (S1 E2, for example).
S2 E9
Traditionalist Muslims limit an individual’s choices, the freedoms of their citizens, and their country.
S2 E11
Well-meaning Lady Lazenby advises Anne that not only are she and Elizabeth being snubbed socially because of rumors that Albert & Elizabeth are getting divorced, but that there must not be a divorce, or all the family’s businesses will be ruined. Additionally, no one else can afford to be even associated with them, as they will suffer the same fate.
S4 E4
No one thinks Elizabeth, a woman, can run the Frazer Line and shipyard. She bucks those prejudice/presumptions, though she still finds she has to rely on Matt Harvey to do so.
Letty, as governess to James’ daughter Charlotte, brings her to visit her father. She asks where she and Charlotte are to stay, and when he says they are to stay at his house, she is stopped for a moment, until he says he’ll be staying aboard his ship. James (now a widower) falls for Letty, and proposes to buy a house nearby for her and Charlotte to live. Charlotte is delighted to live nearby, but doesn’t understand why they can’t live together with her father. James tells his daughter that it’s not considered proper for unmarried couples to live together. For many living a hundred and more years later than the setting of this story, this seems ridiculous. For others, it’s still a good rule to live by, giving legitimacy and greater stability to the family.
S5 E3
James insists on getting a housekeeper to protect Letty’s reputation when she & Charlotte must move in with him, due to his recent financial disaster. Letty says that neither she nor James care about gossip, but apparently he does care about it for her sake. And what about the effect of gossip on Charlotte’s life? Brother Robert doesn’t consider merely having a housekeeper protects Letty’s reputation sufficiently. Letty claims that those who want to gossip will, no matter, which is the case as much nowdays as ever.
S5 E9
Despite having said that she doesn’t care about gossip, Letty says she can’t go with James to Scotland without Charlotte, presumably to provide some legitimacy for her going with him. Although James had previously tried to take precautions to protect her reputation, this time he tricks her into going with him without either a chaperone or even Charlotte as an excuse. Whether others gossiped about their traveling together, it doesn’t appear that they were intimate, and we might presume the crew were aware of that, even though the crew might just assume they could do so with discretion.
James and Letty married in the next episode.
S6 E8
Much to James’ outrage, his daughter Charlotte makes the same mistake as his sister Elizabeth, and her illicit intimacy produces an illegitimate pregnancy. Charlotte is young (perhaps 15) and enamored with her cousin and the idea of being in love and betrothed. Her largely absentee father left her seeking to be the center of some male’s life. Her governess’ overindulgence has made her think she should always get her own way.
But even if these were not the case, the social norms of avoiding situations that could lead to unintended consequences are reinforced in the story. There’s a reason one should not be over-focused on one person too early in life. Likewise, it’s wise to have chaperones and off-limit premises. Too often isolated couples have fallen into temptations that have at best brought disappointment to themselves, and at worst have ruined their lives.
Though William, who impregnated Charlotte, promises to provide well for her and the child all their lives (financially), he isn’t willing to give them legitimacy in society. Even if that were not a problem, Charlotte’s choices would be limited by the fact that she already has a child. What if Charlotte wanted to marry someday? What if she wanted more children? Not all men are willing to take on another father’s fatherhood (as Elizabeth’s husband Albert loved and cared for her child--yet left for Argentina in the boy’s critical teen years. And when William grew to be a man, he was conflicted over his birth father).
Illegitimacy brings with it many an awkward situation, such as with inherited health issues, such as in S2 E3 (baby William suffering fits). Once 2 people have shared intimacy it often brings awkwardness in various social situations, conflicting emotions, and jealousy (as between Elizabeth, her husband, and her previous lover, the father of her child--through several seaons of the series).
Charlotte’s other cousin, Samuel, felt compassion for her and her situation, saved her reputation and that of her son, by marrying her (S6 E10), and yet the solution to that problem became problematic for their marriage, so that the effects of that original sin, if you will, continued to warp not only Charlotte’s life, but Samuel’s and their children’s as well.
S7 E1
The social stigma of disease is a 2-edged sword. While it can help stop the spread of contagions, those diseases that are not understood well may have social consequences that can be worse than the disease. Such were society’s fears about leprosy in the 1800s (and for centuries, millennia, before then).
S7 E8
Letty finds opposition to acquiring a house for her children’s home. No one in a good neighborhood where she wants to raise them, wants them there. They fear the contagion of influence and ideas. Letty has compassion for the children, who are not to blame for the circumstances of their birth. James and others of their society feel that providing certain social services to those who make poor choices is enabling/encouraging them to continue to make poor choices and to avoid taking responsibility for them. Each side has validity. It’s one of many difficult problems for any society to resolve. But then some people add social stigmas and prejudices that become downright cruelty.
James said many times that in trying to help a person, you end up hurting them, though he also helped people/acted compassionately at times, so that whether he would admit it or not, it’s right to have compassion and caring for others. That was Anne’s disposition and conscience, as well as Letty’s.
While Anne was staying with Mrs. Jessop (S2 E3) she learned that the well-intentioned Contagious Disease Act had unintended consequences, as happens when legislation is not well thought through or researched. Yet sometimes even good laws may be a detriment to a few circumstances. It's one reason for having wise judges and juries of peers.
S8 E5
More than one episode illustrates religious and superstition’s limits on people’s self-determination. But this episode seemed to me a useful comparison between the religion and superstitions of one civilization and that of another . . . in this case, the English and the Nigerians.
When Religion or Faith helps one to make wise choices and/or offers comfort and strength in times of trouble, they are beneficial to a person, family, society. When they are used to excuse authoritarianism/tyranny, persecution, cruelty, they, like any other facet of humankind or its institutions, are corrupted, corruptors, corruptions.
There might be some times when superstition could help one make better choices—like avoiding walking under ladders—but it seems reasonable to want to apply reason to whether any particular attitude or behavior is helpful or not. More than religion, it seems to me that superstition has been used to frighten people into allowing others to have unreasonable power over them.
Education
Baines’ illiteracy limited him from improving his lot in life (S1 E2), but Anne (his employer’s wife) bargained to teach him to read, write, and use mathematics. She kept to her bargain, and through her he was eventually enabled to pass the test for a Master’s ticket (captain’s license, S1 E15).
Mr. Callon and Jack Frazer saw to it that their children were educated, as did Robert and Elizabeth, in order to give them better prospects in life, more open doors. (S1 E5 Callon’s son, S1 E15 Albert’s education, S5 E3 Samuel & William, S6 E2 Samul’s education).
One’s own choices
Elizabeth chose to be intimate before marriage, and that put limits on her life, despite her determination that it shouldn’t. She later admits to her sister-in-law Anne, that she “feel[s] nothing but regret every time [Daniel, with whom she had been intimate] enters a room.” (S1 E5). When her son is grown, she fears to admit to him that he is illegitimate, afraid of what he will think of her (S5).
Elizabeth decides to marry Albert Frazer instead of Daniel Fogarty, the father of her child, and decides not to tell him who the baby’s father really is. Later she admits to Anne (to whom she goes for advice, even though she doesn’t want to take it) that she feels ashamed for having deceived him (S1 E8). It becomes a wedge in their marriage, and she fears losing Albert, having fallen in love with him. When Albert finally does learn the truth (when baby William turns 1, S1 E13), it becomes an issue they struggle with for years, despite Albert’s love for the child, he is so hurt by the deception.
Ironically, Elizabeth’s very determination to determine her own life ruins nearly every romantic relationship she forms. She has a stormy marriage with Albert for years, and a stormy relationship (and finally marriage) with Daniel, over many seasons. Her relationship with Jose (son of James’ business associate/friend Braganza) was cut short by his death, before it could turn stormy--she was, after all, still married to Albert, and it left them open to temptations they found regrettable. She has a stormy relationship with Matt Harvey throughout season 4. It seems like she might have a more stable relationship at last with Marston, but she is uncertain (not wanting to ruin her husband's career), and his father finally blocks them from pursuing her divorce and their marriage (S7 E7-10).
As a businesswoman, Elizabeth’s choices are much more successful (S4-8).
Season 1 & 2
Anne’s scruples/conscience limited what she was willing & able to do—not a bad thing, unless she was uninformed or didn’t understand the situation (S1 E12, as far as the parson). She admitted that she had things to learn (S1 E8 & 13). She admitted that sometimes one may hold too tightly to excessive scruples that clash with what one wants in life, and yet some scruples must be held on to for the sake of one's self respect (S1 E9, S2 E6+). Anne had her own opinions, and would try to influence her husband, but she chose to be loyal to him (S1 E10), unless her conscience was too heavily tread upon (S1 E12 feeding starving emigrant passengers; S2 E2-5 feeding starving families). At times her conscience was conflicted (S1 E14), and she had to weigh her choices.
S1E 12
A parson defrocked for lechery loses his life because of his lies/treachery. He was taking advantage of islanders' trust in him to sell them into virtual slavery.
S3 E2
Miners get drunk and sign on as sailors; some choose not to fulfill their contract and are sent to jail. Some blame James for getting them drunk in an attempt to break a strike the mine owner refused to negotiate. The strike would impact his own business as well. He chose the lesser of evils. But those miners chose to drink, and to drink to excess.
S4 E7
“Uncle” Percy steals from Elizabeth/Frazers and is imprisoned. She believes his protestations of innocence. He eventually loses valuable friends when he is finally forced to admit is actually guilty, not even sorry for it. He considered that he was entitled.
S4 E9
Sinclair’s uncle dangled promises of inheriting wealth for years and years, making him work for a pittance. But then the uncle tied up his inheritance, so that he could not benefit from it until his aunt died. Though his aunt makes him the company manager, he lets the business go to ruin (from a thriving 20 ships down to 6 wrecks), as though somehow that could revenge him of his uncle's unfairness. Sinclair chooses to mortgage his future so that he can live a wastrel’s life.
S5 E10
After being rewarded as a hero, Billie gets drunk and is taken in by crimps. They manage to get all his reward away from him.
S6 E1
Tim doesn’t want to be a sailor. It's a hard life. He covets, then steals Sir Daniel's gold. Only through the mercy of Sir Daniel and his father's old mate is his punishment commuted to serving time on another ship under the probationary care of his father's old friend (who had got him his berth/job in the first place).
S6 E2
Elizabeth tells her son: Those who make decisions must take the consequences. She had tyrannically said the same to her employee Matt Harvey, in a fit of authoritarianism (S4 E9), blaming him unfairly for losses. Her overbearing ways lost him to her. Maybe she finally eventually recognized that advice for her own self.
S6 E3
Capt. Barry accepts bribery to sink his own ship. He becomes alcoholic with the guilt/shame of it, and ruined his chances of getting command of any other ship.
S6 E5
William & Charlotte are intimate. She thinks it will draw them closer, and lead to marriage. But he begins to see it as the mistake of a moment threatening to ruin his life. Of course he had been unwilling to keep his word to Charlotte's father to stop spending so much time with her. William was the elder of the two, and should have taken responsibility for the relationship. But he refuses to marry her, and thus ruins her life--first in the intimacy, and then in refusing to legitimize it. (S6 E7)
S6 E10
Samuel comes to Charlotte’s defense, eventually marries her, which becomes a disaster.
S7 E10
Tom spoils himself instead of staying alert on guard, and gets kidnaped by Burgess & crew.
S8 E2
James ignores the advice of Capt. Baines, falls into a trap baited with the promise of a highly profitable cargo of Turkish tobacco, so that he & Baines are held for ruinous ransom.
Tom rescues them, but Elizabeth & Samuel scrounge up the exorbitant ransom, a disaster to James' & Elizabeth's finances.
Ill-Health & Drunkenness
When one is ill or drunk, one doesn’t have full capacity to pursue one’s dreams, or have control over one’s life. Decision-making is impaired, engergy & enthusiasm are depleted.
Sometimes the one who drinks excessively ruins the lives of others, sometimes one drinks to try to forget or avoid responsibility for one’s choices, sometimes one uses alcohol or drugs to take advantage of others.
S1 E1
Capt. Webster loses his ship and impoverishes himself and daughter, through alcoholism.
S1 E2
James becomes ill and Anne is the only one literate to navigate the ship, but she is ill prepared. All kinds of troubles follow.
S1 E6
Mrs. Bascom drinks instead of feeding her kids. She begs others to take the pity on them that she hasn't.
S1 E9
A brothel owner spikes James’ drink to steal his document and reveal his strategy to try to rescue his company from an unjust insurance owner.
S1 E12
An alcoholic parson limits his own choices, makes bad choices for others.
S1 E13
Tipsy Robert spills the beans, causing embarrassment all around.
Baby William comes down with fever and spots--is it smallpox or chicken pox? Tense hours of tending a sick baby and not knowing follow. Meanwhile, aboard ship to Canada, Sarah's brother & wife come down with smallpox. Not only their own self-determination is in jeopardy, but that of the entire ship. James & Baines explain to Anne what happens to a ship in quarantine.
S2 E4-5
Sailors aboard the Chilean ship "Samantha" who have Yellow Jack are tossed over the side with shackles to drown them. Sailors hired to bring the "Samantha" into Liverpool not only die, but spread death in the port.
Anne becomes ill, unable to care even for herself, let alone make any choices for her life.
S2 E10
Robert’s seasickness is debilitating (as in other episodes as well). Pregnant Anne gets seasick, so must stay at home when she'd rather sail.
S2 E11
Fogarty gets Emma drunk to seduce her. She breaks their engagement, feeling used, especially as she learns that he is the father of Elizabeth's son.
On advice from young seaman with a medical father, James saves Baines’ leg with ether & carbolic, despite Baines' objections. He is in no position to be able to make that decision (fortunately, as it turns out).
S3 E2
Drunk miners sign on as sailors, and must either serve or go to jail.
Fogarty gets Robert drunk to persuade him into making a bad deal.
Caroline suffers from exposure & dehydration adrift in a canoe at sea. She has no power over her life whatsoever.
S3 E12
An agent for the wealthy Rothschilds agent is injured, eventually dies, when Fogarty’s ship hits an iceberg.
S4 E1
James’ eyesight is suffering, limiting his life: a highly frustrating position for him to find himself in, to whom determining his own life is so important.
Albert got sick and died poor in the Argentine. His dreams unfulfilled.
S4 E2-3
Jack Frazer’s health declines, and he dies. He not only can no longer run his own company, he finds out that his grandson is not so by blood: a huge disappointment to him. He reluctantly realizes that Elizabeth is just ruthless enough to be a success at running the company.
S4 E5
Liverpool is in quarantine. People can’t pursue their business or livelihood, leading to poverty in port. People left with few, if any, choices in life, or even in death.
S4 E7
Charlotte has diphtheria, is confined to bed.
S4 E9
A Profligate loses his aunt’s company, his own inheritance, through debauchery & debt. His bedridden aunt not only can't leave her room, but must be totally reliant on caregivers. She loses hope.
S4 E10
Capt. Baines suffers from an insect infection, making him too ill to command his ship.
S5 E1
James is hit on the head, must be abed, others decide where he will go.
S5 E3
A drunken sailor has to face justice for his crimes.
S5 E4
Consumptive Emma is consigned to an institution, others make decisions for her. She eventually dies there.
Robert gets drunk in NYC and gets crimped. Luckily for him, he is sold to Capt. Baines, who bails him out (though he will have to repay James for the money Baines lent him was James').
S5 E7
Due to her mother’s illness, among other troubles, Mrs. Purvis must work extra jobs. She gets fired for tardiness while trying to juggle everything.
S6 E2
Robert chokes on a bone in the soup and dies, then end of his grand dreams and schemes (except that in his Will he has limited his son's will).
S6 E5--Thugs rob a drunken sailor.
S6 E7
Baines gets James drunk to help him accept Letty’s pregnancy (in this case, a redeeming use of alcohol).
S6 E8--A drunkard captain has neglected wife & all.
S6 E9
James & Baines get drunk over their troubles. When there is no other remedy, they go without sleep 2 days through a raging storm to try to get James home in time for his son's birth.
Letty’s struggles through childbirth, but the newborn has a heart problem and dies after 2-3 days. That's an end to her desire to have James' child. It appears to be an end of his desire to have a male heir to carry on after him.
S6 E10
James and Baines suffer from exposure, hunger, thirst, adrift at sea, unable to carry on their own lives, until at last rescued. Meanwhile, their loved ones are sick with worry, and with wondering if James just doesn't want to come home.
S7 E1
What does James, or the general public, know about Leprosy? Are people aboard infected? The crew is sick with fears, James & Baines fear being put in quarantine when they must put into port. They both well understand the severe limits that will put on them and all aboard.
S7 E2
Baines gets a broken arm in a brawl and is forced to do office work, which he hates.
S7 E3—Charlotte mourns William to the point of mental illness.
S7 E7
James has an ulcer. Letty insists that he follow doctor's orders, and limit his involvement in business and stressful living, as well as limiting his diet to milk & fish, no alcohol.
A mentally ill sailor under Baines’ command taunts young Tom Arnold, nearly kills him.
S7 E8
James must reluctantly take on a mortally injured ship’s captain as passenger. He and Baines are unable to save the captain's life, but the captain passes on information highly useful to James.
S7 E9—Charlotte is knocked overboard, seriously injured, scarred.
S8 E6
Capt. Baines’ ship is caught in a storm, then catches fire, killing young Tom. Capt. Baines mourns his loss (who he considered like a son), blames it on James in anger, until he is able to face his own guilt, and forgive both James and himself.
Spouses
Anne chose to live the life her husband chose, which had some real consequences for her in a material way--except when she left him over her conscientious self-determination (S2 E2). Elizabeth and other wives would not be willing to accept such lifestyle limits. It also meant that sometimes she went along with ventures she didn’t feel comfortable with (running the Yankee blockade to sell supplies to the Confederates, gun running to the French, and so forth). The survival of a marriage nearly always requires some compromises, negotiations, give and take. One/a couple has to find a balance between what the individual might choose as a single person, and the desire to live and work as a team/partnership. That can be a challenge, and different people and couples resolve it in their own ways.
James wanted Letty to share his life rather than be a businesswoman, yet he helped her acquire a mill and agreed to get the grain for it (S5 E6). He disapproved of her sack-mending business (which affected his own business), yet was willing to provide premises for it when he saw how important it was to her (S5 E9). These situations came up even when they were only intending to marry. Once married, she felt useless at sea and he felt restless at home, so when she decided to provide a children’s home, though he disapproved, he didn’t prevent her, and, in fact, helped her acquire the premises without letting on to her that he did so (S7 E8).
S1 E4
Sarah sometimes "wears the pants" in her and Robert's marriage, depending on who is more strong-willed at the moment. See also, S2 E10, S3 E11, S4 E4, 5, & 7. In S3 E12 Robert puts his foot down about having Elizabeth & Mrs. Maudslay stay, but then Sarah pushes for inviting Leonora. He sees the possible benefits.
S1 E9--James forbids Anne from walking around London on her own, so she takes a cab.
S1 E15
The wives work behind the scenes to effect business negotiations between their husbands.
S2 E2
James forbids Anne to help the strikers’ families, a limit she isn’t willing to accept, and she leaves him.
S2 E3--Ellen Jessop has to work 2-3 jobs because of her husband’s choices.
S2 E9
Albert expects Elizabeth to follow him to Turkey, and she refuses, leaving him to temptation.
S2 E11
Albert sends William to boarding school when apparently Elizabeth is not ready to let him go.
S2 E13/14
Emma is unhappy that her new husband leaves for a business meeting on her wedding day. Then they spend their honeymoon on a business trip. She had thought a ship trip honeymoon would be romantic, but she finds living in the confinement of a ship, with the vulgarity of the sailors is a turn-off.
Though he had said he was not marrying her for her money or her business, when it comes to it, as husband, he claims “I am Callon & Company”.
Emma requires Fogarty to give up the race to show his love for her.
S2 E14
Anne isn’t honest with James about doctors’ warnings about becoming pregnant, thus giving him no choice, no say, about whether he would risk losing her in order to have a son.
S3 E1
Albert has gone to the Argentine and wants Elizabeth to come. She refuses. He takes a mistress. When spouses each expect the other to bend to their wishes, no one is the winner.
Fogarty, feeling a failure a business and at marriage, goes to sea. Emma forces him to sign over all assets of the Callon Co. to her new partnership with Jack Frazer.
Robert becomes a politician, determining what his wife Sarah's life will be.
S3 E4—Caroline Maudslay claims marriage is a detriment to women.
S3 E11—Robert runs for Parliament, intending to move to London. Sarah takes him at his word and spills the beans so that he must resign his present position on the city council. She tries to force the sale of their home and business, but he declines the offers. (The move: S3 E12)
S3 E12
Robert loses a huge investment in Kernan’s scam, loses the London residence, must move back to Liverpool. This no doubt puts a crimp in the ever-ambitious-for-social-climbing Sarah's style.
S6 E1
James plans for himself & Letty to be free to galivant when Charlotte is off their hands. Letty hopes for a stable family life with children, or at least a child that is both his and hers.
S6 E3
James doesn’t want children, Letty does. When she becomes pregnant, she is miserable about how to tell him. The time never seems right (S6 E5-7).
S6 E4
Daniel begins a canal scheme, Elizabeth disapproves. It becomes a source of contention in their marriage for several episodes.
S6 E7
James explodes when he comes home after 2 months' voyage and it's obvious that Letty is pregnant.
S6 E8
Capt. Bragg deserted his wife for 20 years (hardly even wrote, let alone send her any support), but still sends for her from across the ocean when he's dying. He sells his one remaining asset, his ship, out from under her--though he has sold it to James, who will pay her a fair market value. She will at least be able to live.
S6 E10
James & Letty each suffer in their own way from the loss of their baby. James sails for Africa. After a disaster, he is lost at sea for months. She is left feeling he must not want to come home.
S7 E1
James orders Letty not to interfere in the running of the ship. She doesn't understand all that's involved. Letty feels useless aboard ship, wants to go home.
James buys a different home for himself & Letty than the one they’d agreed upon. He expects her to like such a big house, when she wanted a smaller one.
Elizabeth finds out Daniel’s having an affair in London. They seem to be equally stubborn, and their separation leaves them each open to temptation.
Season 7
Charlotte & Samuel’s relationship continues to erode, she runs off with money & Burgess. He gets involved with an actress.
S7 E2
Samuel refuses William even to come to the house, doesn't even let Charlotte know that William had written, asking to see Charlotte and the child. But Charlotte also rejects William’s efforts to see baby Robert (the son he abandoned). Yet when William is killed saving some children, she becomes morose.
S7 E3—James is too busy for Letty at home (but thinks only of her while away).
S7 E6—James orders Letty to get rid of a foundling left on the doorstep.
S7 E6—A volatile lecture from Letty effects contrition & compliance from James.
S7 E6-9--Charlotte runs off with Burgess, Samuel doesn’t want her back.
S7 E8—Samuel seeks advice from a divorce lawyer,
S7 E9—Samuel accepts Charlotte back home, but not back into his heart.
S7 E10
James takes young Tom home to calm & quiet living, but after the Children’s Home burned down, Letty brought the children home with her. It's bedlam. James takes Tom and goes back to ship with a wink, expecting that she will relent.
Elizabeth at last accompanies her husband appointed Ambassador to Turkey.
S8 E1
Samuel divorces Charlotte, keeps the children. She goes to stay with her father. Elizabeth returns to Liverpool to run Frazers.
S8 E4
James marries Catholic Margarita less than a year after Letty’s death. Elizabeth, who had been great friends with Letty, has a hard time accepting her.
When James' trade deals finish the ruin of the Van der Rheede brothers' business, Max tells Theo they must sell & leavethe only home they’ve ever known. Max had always resented his younger brother Theo, and isn't kind about it. Theo commits suicide. Max blames James.
James is influenced by his wife to hire a sailor against Capt. Baines betters judgment. When things don't go well, she wants him to intervene again, but he tells her he needs to let Baines run the ship, just as he is obligated to let her be her own person.
Parents/family/guardians/inheritances
Like the limits of Law and Society, one’s family can help one avoid making poor choices (Elizabeth wonders if she married the wrong man, but if she’d have listened to her family members, she would have married the father of her child S2 E1). Children can benefit from the experience of their elders, just as often as their elders might act as tyrants. At least their counsel should cause one to stop and consider the ramifications of one’s choices.
S5 E4
James went to sea at 14, despite his father’s objections. It turned out well for him, over time, and he considered the pains worth the rewards.
S1 E6
Elizabeth’s family members stop her from going to the opera with an admirer, because she has promised herself to another. Her elder brothers demand she marry the father of her illegitimate child, she refuses. She and others will pay over and over for her choices.
S1 E5
Albert inherits a house, but must keep an aunt for the rest of her life; perhaps not a bad trade, though she is highly critical of him.
S1 E15
Albert & his father clash (see also, S3 E1, S4 E1, S4 E3). They miss out on the relationship they could have enjoyed.
S3 E3-4
Braganza insists his son Jose go to England, under James’ care. He wants his son to represent his company’s interests there. He counts on his friend James to keep him in Liverpool. James knows he can’t force the young man against his will, so offers him a position he knows will appeal to him (unfortunately, that turns out badly). Jose expects to benefit from his father’s wealth, without inconveniencing his own preferences.
S4 E9
Mr. Salt extracts a promise of his wife never to sell the Salt Line after his death, despite not being able to tell what the future may hold, whether she may need to have more flexibility in what to do with her inheritance.
S5 E4—Elizabeth & Sarah take over James’ & Elizabeth’s wedding plans.
S5 E7
Polish emigrant Maritza’s brother makes the decisions for her, as her protector. It’s not his fault that accidents of life turn out badly for her.
James tells William that he is to back off seeing Charlotte so she can develop other friends. He promises to do so, but then doesn’t. He and Charlotte end up having an illegitimate child, then he refuses to legitimize the relationship.
S5 E9
Charlotte pressures her cousin William to ask her father for a betrothal. That William accedes to her will is one of the reasons James considers him weak. Later, James will have other reasons to consider this nephew of his weak.
S5 E10
Sarah takes over planning Elizabeth’s wedding to Fogarty. Ironically, Elizabeth wants a simple service, after having insisted James spend a lot for an elaborate wedding for Letty and himself.
S6 E4—Charlotte uses Samuel in order to see William.
S6 E6
The Reverend’s daughter must accompany him through any trial and be joyful about it. She bears it patiently, but when he insists she answer honestly about whether she enjoys the life, he judges her harshly.
S6 E10
Sarah brings her sister-in-law Letty out of depression by reminding her of her business responsibilities.
S7 E1—An Egyptologist’s daughter must live with her father’s choices & the consequences thereof.
S7 E7—James frees Sarah from both a spiritualist/medium Pilgrim and an unsuitable suitor Dampier.
S7 E8—James cautions the still-married Elizabeth about getting too involved with Marston.
S7 E8-10
Marston and his father enjoy a happy, close relationship. But when Marston develops strong feelings for the still-married Elizabeth, his father objects. Marston is unable to convince him, and eventually the father uses his influence to quash the relationship.
S8 E1
Samuel invests money from William’s son Robert for his own purposes, but then reimburses it when he is challenged by a relative for doing so.
S8 E3
Margarita’s father sends her away, knowing a dangerous insurrection is about to happen. She returns to her father, refusing to leave him alone in danger. Margarita's own uncle is leader of the revolt.
Margarita isn't lacking in courage. She had braved dangers to bury her husband & son in a previous revolution. When James makes it clear to her father that she will never leave without him, he finally leaves with James so she will go as well. Unfortunately, her father is killed as they escape.
More details about the relationships between Samuel, William, and Charlotte Onedin and their parents to come.
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