The Last Chronicle of Barset

Academic professor Kincaid has argued that power is illustrated throughout the novel.[5] Power is held by wealthy individuals and the church, reflecting Victorian society where there was a heavy emphasis placed on God and religion.[7] Throughout the play, the lives of lower-class individuals such as the poverty-stricken Josiah Crawley are dictated by the Church and the wealthy who hold the power within society.[7] Ellen Moody points out that the power dynamics of society are immediately established in the opening chapter.[13] She argues that the power of the rich is displayed through how the wealthy stockbrokers can constantly commit fraudulent actions and yet Crawley is regarded as suspicious for allegedly stealing $20. From this, Moody has interpreted the power dynamics as a reflection of one's status in society.[13] She claims that Crawley's low status and impoverished living conditions have subjected him to a life dictated by the wealthy.[13]

Miguel Perez takes note of how there are different forms of power within the novel.[14] Doctor Grantly holds power in the sense that he is the archdeacon, manages multiple businesses and holds the position as the vicar of Plumstead.[14] On the other hand, Reverend Crawley, who is not as wealthy as Grantly and struggles to feed his family, is powerful in the way that he is well educated and intelligent.[14] Perez argues that while Grantly and Crawley's characters contrast each other greatly, both possess some sort of power whether it be wealth or knowledge.[14]

Gordon Hirsch and Louella Hirsch present the argument that pride is predominantly revealed through Reverend Crawley's character.[15] Both scholars argue that Crawley's refusal to admit that he is somewhat responsible for his suffering stems from his pride. While the wealthy, such as Mrs. Proudie is responsible for placing Crawley on trial for a crime he did not commit, Crawley does not attempt to improve his situation.[15] He resigns from his job and "would do nothing. He would not eat, nor would he even sit at table or say the accustomed grace". The Hirsch academics argue that Crawley constantly blames those surrounding him, unable to see his self-inflicted suffering due to the pride he holds for himself.[15] Furthermore, David Mazurowski states that Crawley is a prideful self martyr, someone who intentionally inflicts suffering on themselves to satisfy a mental need.[16] In this case, Mazurowski believes that Crawley's mental need is the desire to be perceived as heroic and noble for being able to withstand the allegations against him.[16]

Moody notes that Lily Dale's pride strongly resembles Crawley's behaviour of prideful self martyr.[13] Moody states that the only difference is that Lily's prideful behaviour does not result in self-inflicted suffering. Instead, Lily's pride emerges when she chooses the path of an unmarried life despite her mother's pleas and Mrs. Thorne's criticism of her choice to not marry.[13] Lily tells Johnny Eames, "I will not have myself planted out in the middle, for people to look at," which Moody interprets as Lily rejecting the concept of marriage.[13] Perez admires Lily's pride, interpreting it as a positive characteristic as he believes it demonstrates that Lily is not influenced by the societal expectations of marriage.[14]

Kincaid has argued that this last novel differentiates itself from the rest of the series in the role that women play.[5] Kincaid points out that Mrs. Crawley is depicted as the one who acts as her husband's rational side.[5] She urges him to recognise the pointless nature of sulking, telling him to "be a man and bear it".[5] Mrs. Dale and Lily are aware of Crawley's innocence and even more, recognise the stubbornness of men, declaring that "A jury of men will not".[5] Mrs. Proudie has no legitimate role in the Church but she does influence the actions of her husband, the Bishop of Barchester. She is confident in her ability to persuade her husband through sexual means when disagreements arise.[5] Furthermore, Kincaid has noted the power dynamics of this couple as when alone, Mrs. Proudie calls her husband Tom yet he still acknowledges her as Mrs. Proudie.[5] From this, Kincaid has interpreted Trollope's novel as a reflection of his society whereby feminism was beginning to emerge.

However, Moody disagrees with Kincaid's argument of Trollope inserting feminism in his novel, arguing that he is "profoundly against regarding women as having value individually".[13] She comes to this judgment after noting how the female characters are either wives or mothers who possess some sort of usefulness and virtue. Moreover, Moody concludes that Trollope had written Lily Dale as a character who found peace and comfort in a small house with her uncle and mother.[13] Were Trollope a true feminist, Moody argues that Lily Dale would have been illustrated to have found happiness through traveling or finding a new job.[13]

Original illustration by G.H. Thomas of Mr. Crawley standing before the magistrates.[17]

Other than its written form, The Last Chronicles of Barset has also been transformed into visual illustrations. The visual illustration was designed by George Housman Thomas and was published in 1867 alongside the novel. Titled The Last Chronicle of Barset With Illustrations, the black and white copy features certain events from the novel.[18] For certain illustrations, Thomas had drawn inspiration from John Everett Millais, a Victorian illustrator.[13] Millias had provided multiple illustrations of The Crawley Family in Trollope's fourth novel in the series, Framley Parsonage. Gordon Ray states that these illustrations serve to vividly complement the novel as they provide an understanding of Trollope's intentions with each character.[19] While Trollope did not draw the illustrations himself, Ray stated that each sketch was tailored to Trollope's own personal desire as Trollope believed that "the author can select the subjects better than the artist - having all the feelings of the story at his fingers' end."[19]

The novel has also been converted into a film series directed by Stephen Harrison.[20] Released in 1959 by the British Broadcasting Corporation, the series had six episodes released over the span of three months before coming to an end. The actors in this series include Hugh Burden as Mr. Crawley, Maureen Pryor as Mrs. Crawley and Olga Lindo as Mrs. Proudie.[20]

The text has been transformed into a number of radio dramas. The first was released in 1998. Directed by Cherry Cookson and dramatised by Martin Wade, the play was created following the previous success of a dramatisation of The Small House at Allington.[21] Another radio version directed by Marion Nancarrow and dramatised by Nick Waburton was released on BBC Radio in 2011.[22] On the Goodreads website, the radio drama currently has a rating of 4.3 stars.[23]

A number of Audiobook versions have also been created and are currently on Audible.com. One is voiced by Timothy West.[24]

• Reverend Josiah Crawley is the central character throughout the entire storyline of this novel. He is the perpetual curate of Hogglestock. He has been accused of stealing a cheque worth 20 pounds. His wife is Mary Crawley, and together they are the parents of another central character, Grace Crawley, as well as two other children named Bob and Jane.
• Bishop Proudie, also Doctor Proudie, is Bishop of the diocese of Barchester. His wife is Mrs. Proudie, and both characters were introduced in the preceding Barchester Towers novel.
• Archdeacon Theophilus Grantly, also Doctor Grantly, is Archdeacon of Barchester and Rector of Plumstead Episcopi. He is married to Mrs. Grantly, and their son Major Henry Grantly is a central character in the main plot. Doctor Grantly and his wife were introduced in the preceding novel The Warden.
• Dean Frank Arabin, also Doctor Arabin, serves as the Dean of Barchester. He is the husband of Eleanor Arabin, and they have a daughter named Susan "Posy" Arabin. Doctor Arabin is a close friend of Josiah Crawley, but is absent from his deanery for the majority of the story.
• Septimus Harding is a retired warden and precentor living at Barchester deanery. He is the father of Eleanor Arabin and Mrs. Grantly. While on his deathbed, Mr. Harding recommends Josiah Crawley for a new appointment in the church. Mr. Harding is the title character of the preceding novel The Warden.
• Reverend Mortimer Tempest, also Doctor Tempest, is Rector of Silverbridge and is charged with the task of heading an ecclesiastical commission to investigate the ramifications of Josiah Crawley's expected conviction under criminal law.
• Reverend Mark Robarts is the vicar of the parish of Framley and a friend of the Crawley family throughout the story. His wife is Mrs. Robarts and the Robarts family is central to the preceding novel Framley Parsonage.

• Major Henry Grantly is a central character and is the love interest of Grace Crawley. He is the son of Archdeacon Grantly and Mrs. Grantly. He is a widower with one child, Edith Grantly. He is retired from the army, and resides at Crosby Lodge.
• Johnny Eames is the "private secretary to the Chief Commissioner of the Income-tax board".[25]^{: ch. XV} He is in love with Lily Dale but his proposals are rejected numerous times throughout the story. He is the nephew of Thomas Toogood and a distant cousin of Mary Crawley and Grace Crawley. Mr. Eames also participates in a secondary romance with Madalina Demolines which is ended before the conclusion of the story.
• Thomas Toogood is an attorney who assists Josiah Crawley in his legal troubles. He is the uncle of Johnny Eames and cousin of Mary Crawley.
• Adolphus Crosbie is the love interest of Lily Dale. He had previously broken off relations with Lily Dale to marry Lady Alexandrina who died some short while before the storyline begins. After dissolving his relationship with Lily Dale, Mr. Crosbie had received a "thrashing" from Johnny Eames.
• Conway Dalrymple is a painter. Over the course of the story, Mr. Dalrymple is painting a portrait of one of his love interests, Clara Van Siever. The time and place for sittings are orchestrated by another of his love interests, Mrs. Dobbs Broughton. Mr. Dalrymple is also a close friend of Johnny Eames.

• Grace Crawley is a central character and serves as the love interest of Major Henry Grantly. Miss Crawley is the daughter of Josiah Crawley and Mary Crawley, and is a cousin of Johnny Eames. She becomes close friends with Lily Dale.
• Lily Dale is the love interest of Johnny Eames and had a previous relationship with Adolphus Crosbie as detailed in the preceding novel The Small House at Allington. She becomes close friends with Grace Crawley.
• Mrs. Proudie is the wife of Bishop Proudie. The Proudie storyline is a continuation of Barchester Towers.