CHAPTER IV – OPINIONS OF THE BENCH

In Chapter IV of “Weir of Hermiston” titled “Opinions of the Bench,” Archie visits Lord Glenalmond late at night, deeply agitated and in search of counsel. Despite Archie’s refusal to eat citing his distress, Glenalmond insists on the importance of nourishment, subtly indicating his expectation of Archie’s visit and his understanding of his troubled state without pressing for details immediately. Once the servant leaves, Archie confronts the matter directly, asking Glenalmond if he was the one who informed his father about his objectionable actions. Glenalmond denies this, suggesting another, Glenkindie, as the likely informant. This conversation reveals the undercurrents of tension and dissatisfaction Archie harbors towards his father, Lord Hermiston, stemming from a lack of familial warmth and exacerbated by his father’s harsh professional demeanor evidenced during a legal trial.

Archie expresses a complex mixture of admiration, fear, and revulsion towards his father, who he views as both admirable in his unwavering principles and repugnant in his severity. Glenalmond, adopting a balanced stance, listens without judgment, offering comfort and wisdom rather than direct advice. He highlights Archie’s intolerance and lack of understanding towards his father, stressing the need for acceptance and obedience as forms of respect and suggesting that Archie’s feelings of love and duty towards his father, though conflicted, can lead to reconciliation.

As their conversation delves into the ethics of judgment and the difficulty of understanding human nature fully, particularly in the context of capital punishment—a matter of personal conflict for Archie—they reach a consensus on the complexity of such moral issues. Glenalmond steers the dialogue to a more philosophical reflection on the nature of justice and human empathy, encouraging Archie to adopt a more compassionate and tolerant perspective.

The chapter concludes with a mutual toast to Lord Hermiston, indicating a moment of understanding and respect towards him, despite the differences. Their evening is interrupted by the arrival of a drunken Lord Glenkindie, whose abrupt entrance starkly contrasts with the serene and reflective atmosphere, reminding Archie of the broader social and familial challenges he faces.

This chapter intricately explores themes of paternal relationships, the quest for personal identity and moral integrity, and the complexities of human judgment, all within the setting of a troubled yet deeply introspective dialogue between Archie and Glenalmond.