Rhiannon Hendricks
In Winston Graham's *The Black Moon*, Morwenna Chynoweth is forced into a marriage with Osborne Whitworth to save her true love, Drake Carne, from execution. Whitworth is abusive towards Morwenna, and she suffers a miscarriage and a traumatic birth during their marriage. After leaving Whitworth and her child, John Conan, Morwenna is eventually reunited with Drake, and they marry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Morwenna Carne (formerly Morwenna Whitworth, née Chynoweth) |
| Occupation | Governess of Geoffrey Charles Poldark |
| First Husband | Osborne Whitworth |
| Second Husband | Drake Carne |
| Children | John Conan Whitworth, Loveday Carne |
| Family | Hubert and Amelia Chynoweth (parents), Garlanda, Carenza and Rowella Chynoweth (sisters) |
| Year of Birth | 1776 |
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What You'll Learn
Morwenna's forced marriage to Whitworth
Morwenna Carne, formerly Morwenna Whitworth, née Chynoweth, was forced into a marriage with Osborne Whitworth, a vicar and clergyman. Morwenna was unhappy with the match as she was in love with Drake Carne, with whom she had exchanged a kiss. However, George, the husband of her cousin Elizabeth Warleggan, had planned for her to marry Whitworth. When Morwenna told George that she refused to marry Whitworth, he threatened to have Drake hanged for 'stealing' a Bible. Despite the efforts of Drake, Demelza, and Ross Poldark to stop the marriage, they were too late.
Morwenna was under intense pressure from everyone, including her mother, to marry Whitworth. On their wedding night, when Morwenna asked for more time, Whitworth responded by hitting and raping her. Morwenna suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, who was described as "repugnant" and "brutish". Whitworth's behaviour towards Morwenna was characterised by contempt, and he resented her. Morwenna became pregnant and gave birth to a son, John Conan Whitworth. However, she struggled to bond with her baby and felt trapped in a loveless marriage.
Morwenna's sister Rowella arrived to help care for her stepdaughters and began an affair with Osborne. When Morwenna discovered the affair, she confronted her husband and threatened to kill their son if he did not leave her alone. Morwenna eventually left her husband and found Drake, whom she married. She struggled with intimacy due to her past trauma but gradually healed and learned to trust her new husband.
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Morwenna's rape on her wedding night
Morwenna Chynoweth, the governess of Geoffrey Charles Poldark, was forced into a marriage with Osborne Whitworth to save her true love, Drake Carne, from the gallows. Whitworth was a cruel and abusive man, and Morwenna was intensely reluctant to marry him. Despite her pleas, Morwenna was wed off to Whitworth while Drake was recovering from an injury.
On her wedding night, Morwenna tried to ask Whitworth for more time, but he rushed at her, hit her, and raped her. This was the first of many instances of sexual violence that Morwenna suffered at the hands of her husband. Whitworth was a sex-obsessed and despicable character, known for spying on teenage girls and making brutal demands on his wife in the bedroom. Morwenna was left traumatized and unhappy in her marriage, even contemplating suicide.
Morwenna eventually gave birth to a baby boy, John Conan Whitworth. However, the birth was a terrible physical ordeal for her, and she struggled to bond with her child. During this time, Whitworth continued his abusive behavior, even turning his attentions towards Morwenna's sister, Rowella.
After enduring a miserable marriage and suffering multiple traumas, Morwenna finally escaped her situation. She abandoned her home and left her son in the care of Lady Whitworth. She reunited with Drake, who was kind and understanding of her ordeal. They eventually married, and Morwenna found healing and trust in their relationship.
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Morwenna's miscarriage and escape from Whitworth
Morwenna Chynoweth was born in 1776 and was the eldest of four daughters of Hubert and Amelia Chynoweth. In 1794, Morwenna was forced to take the post of governess to Geoffrey Charles Poldark by her cousin, Elizabeth Warleggan, and Elizabeth's husband, George. Morwenna soon fell in love with Drake Carne, the brother-in-law of Ross Poldark, who was locked in a feud with George.
George discovered Morwenna and Drake's relationship and decided to secure her hand in marriage to Mr. Osborne Whitworth, a self-centred, recently widowed vicar who needed a new wife to care for his young daughters. Morwenna was unhappy with the match but was forced to go through with the marriage when George threatened to have Drake hanged if she refused.
Osborne Whitworth was abusive towards Morwenna and forced himself on her repeatedly. Early in the marriage, she fell pregnant with their son, John Conan Whitworth. Osborne also began an affair with Morwenna's sister, Rowella, and continued to sleep with her for months. Morwenna soon realised she was pregnant again and, along with John Conan, was forced to live at Lady Whitworth's house. Lady Whitworth was controlling and cold towards Morwenna and isolated her in her home, not allowing her to have any say in John Conan's upbringing. She even told Morwenna of her intention to have her committed to an asylum.
Morwenna suffered a miscarriage, which made her feel freer, and she decided to leave Lady Whitworth's home. However, in the process, she had to leave John Conan in Lady Whitworth's care. She found Drake and told him what had happened to her. He was kind and understanding and wished to marry her. Morwenna told Drake that she couldn't promise to be a fully consummated wife to him, but he agreed to a marriage based on companionship and love. They were later married, and Morwenna gradually healed and learned to trust Drake.
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Morwenna's reunion and marriage to Drake
Morwenna and Drake's reunion and marriage are marked by a series of challenges and emotional struggles. After being forced to marry Osborne Whitworth to save Drake from the gallows, Morwenna endures an unhappy and abusive marriage. She suffers the loss of her child, John Conan, and is haunted by her past. Meanwhile, Drake, Demelza, and Ross Poldark fail in their attempt to stop Morwenna's wedding to Mr Whitworth, and Drake is charged with stealing a Bible.
Morwenna eventually finds the courage to stand up to her abusive husband and re-establishes contact with Drake. She abandons her controlling home and, in a heart-wrenching decision, leaves her son with Lady Whitworth. Morwenna and Drake reunite, and she confides in him about her traumatic experiences. Drake, understanding and kind, wishes to marry her. Morwenna, still bearing the scars of her past, tells Drake she cannot promise a typical marital relationship, but they can share companionship and love. Drake, considerate of her wishes, agrees, and they marry.
Despite their union, Morwenna continues to struggle with intimacy due to her traumatic past. She finds herself an outsider in her new life, having left her previous role as a Whitworth. However, a glimmer of hope emerges as Morwenna discovers a new purpose in the community. She helps establish a school to educate the young children, bringing her a sense of purpose and hope. Morwenna's journey towards healing and trust in her marriage to Drake is gradual, but the community's reliance on her and her newfound purpose offer a promising future.
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Morwenna's continued trauma and healing
Morwenna's trauma continues after she is forced to marry Osborne Whitworth, a vicar, to save her true love, Drake, from the gallows. She is subjected to abuse and rape at the hands of her husband, who also turns his attention to her sister, Rowella. Morwenna becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy, John Conan Whitworth, but struggles to bond with her child. She also suffers a miscarriage, which gives her a sense of freedom as she decides to leave her controlling home. She abandons her home but has to leave her son behind. Morwenna is described as having lost her "innocence, energy and spark for life" during this traumatic period.
Morwenna eventually escapes her abusive marriage and reunites with Drake, whom she marries. However, she continues to struggle with intimacy due to her traumatic past. Morwenna finds healing and trust in her relationship with Drake, who is described as considerate and kind. She also finds purpose in her new community by helping to start a school for the local children. This gives her a sense of hope and a new role, as she had previously felt isolated and without a real purpose. Morwenna's character arc demonstrates a journey of continued trauma and healing, as she navigates the aftermath of her abusive marriage and finds solace in her new life with Drake and their community.
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Frequently asked questions
Morwenna is wed to Osborne Whitworth, who is abusive towards her. She was forced into the marriage by George, who threatened to have her true love, Drake Carne, hung.
Morwenna's true love is Drake Carne, Demelza's brother. She met him before being forced into her marriage with Whitworth and they kissed. She eventually leaves Whitworth and marries Drake.
Morwenna is unhappy in her marriage to Whitworth, who rapes her on their wedding night. She gives birth to a son, John Conan Whitworth, but struggles to bond with him. She also has a miscarriage.
