The French Lieutenant’s Woman

“I have yet to meet a phallus with scruples.” — John Fowles, The French Lieutenant’s Woman

Chapters 1–7

The novel opens in 1867 in Lyme Regis, England, where Charles Smithson, a wealthy amateur paleontologist and gentleman, is engaged to Ernestina Freeman, the daughter of a prosperous merchant. While walking along the Cobb (the town’s seawall), Charles encounters Sarah Woodruff, a mysterious woman known locally as “the French Lieutenant’s Woman” due to her rumored affair with a French naval officer who abandoned her. Sarah is ostracized by Victorian society and works as a companion to the stern Mrs. Poulteney. Intrigued by Sarah’s tragic aura, Charles becomes drawn to her despite his engagement.

Chapters 8–14

Charles learns more about Sarah’s past—her supposed disgrace and her refusal to conform to societal expectations. Meanwhile, his relationship with Ernestina grows increasingly stifling. Sarah confesses to Charles that she deliberately fabricated parts of her scandalous reputation to gain independence from societal judgment. Charles, torn between duty and desire, arranges secret meetings with Sarah, leading to an emotional entanglement.

Chapters 15–21

Charles’s internal conflict intensifies as he questions his engagement and Victorian morality. Sarah disappears, leaving him a note. He searches for her, eventually tracking her to Exeter, where they consummate their relationship. However, Sarah vanishes again, leaving Charles to face the consequences of his actions—his broken engagement, social ruin, and a lawsuit from Ernestina’s father.

Chapters 22–28

Charles, now disgraced, travels abroad in despair. The novel takes a postmodern turn as the narrator intervenes, offering multiple possible endings. In one version, Charles reunites with Sarah, now an independent woman working with the Pre-Raphaelites. In another, he fails to find her and remains haunted by her memory. The novel ends ambiguously, challenging Victorian conventions and reader expectations.

Key Ideas

• Victorian repression vs. personal freedom
• The unreliable nature of historical narratives
• Postmodern experimentation with multiple endings
• Gender roles and societal constraints
• The tension between destiny and choice

Notable Adaptations