Julia story
Charles returns to his Paris studies, where he is visited by Rex Mottram, who is searching for Sebastian and the money he stole before disappearing from their hotel. Rex discusses the financial woes of the Marchmain family and says that he intends to marry Julia nonetheless. Rex obtains the consent of Lord Marchmain to the marriage; Lady Marchmain reluctantly agrees to drop her opposition to the marriage provided Rex converts to Catholicism, a condition which he is willing to accept. But when Bridey learns that Rex has a former wife who is still living, the planned Catholic wedding cannot go ahead because of the refusal of that Church to marry divorced people. A defiant Julia marries Rex in a Protestant ceremony that her family, with the exception of Cordelia, refuse to attend.
30 total · 3 choice · 9 major · 18 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| choosing between love and family | choice | At the center of this episode is Julia's tough decision between her love for Rex on the one hand, and both her family and her religion on the other hand. |
| love vs. faith | choice | At the center of this episode is Julia's tough decision between her love for Rex on the one hand, and both her family and her religion on the other hand. |
| romantic love | choice | This episode concerns the eponymous Julia falling in love with Rex Motram. |
| Catholicism | major | In an attempt to marry Julia in the Roman Rite, as was the custom of the Marchmain family, Rex opportunistically decided to become Catholic. The story revolves around his pro forma conversion. |
| controlling family member | major | Julia's relationship with her mother, Lady Marchmain, was strained to the limit because of Julia's engagement to Rex. Lady Marchmain tried to pressure Julia into breaking off the engagement, only mellowing when Rex insisted on converting to the Catholic faith. Lady Marchmain pointedly refrained from attending their wedding ceremony, which, owing to some scandal, was conducted at a Protestant church. |
| disapproving parent | major | Lady Marchmain poo pooed Julia's designs on marrying Rex, going so far as to assert that Julia herself would "regret he whole business in a few days". Lady Marchmain mellowed only after Rex insisted on converting to the Catholic faith. |
| engaged couple | major | Julia and Rex's engagement became a source of embarrassment and shame for her family. |
| family dispute | major | Julia's engagement to Rex bought strife to the Marchmain household. |
| life in late modern Britain | major | The story portrays life for both the low and the high at Brideshead Castle, an aristocratic country estate, in Britain during the interwar period as well as during the Second World War. |
| mother and daughter | major | The story concerns Julia and her mother, Lady Marchmain, arguing over whether Julia could marry Rex Motram. |