# IV explained — A High Wind in Jamaica

> Chapter companion for A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes.

## What happens

The Thornton children return home from Exeter, with Emily still absorbed by the earthquake while John fixates on ponies. A violent thunderstorm and hurricane devastate the estate, destroying huts, killing Sam, and ultimately blowing away the roof. The family takes refuge in the cellar with the negroes and goats, and the children become drunk on madeira, sleeping through the worst of the storm.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Sublime

The hurricane is depicted as an overwhelming, sublime force that reduces human structures and efforts to insignificance, with wind like a solid block and lightning all around.

### Childhood Innocence and Morality

Emily's internal processing of the earthquake and storm, her attempt to escape into imagination, and the children's drunken sleep highlight the clash between childish perception and harsh reality.

### Violence and Cruelty

The brutal death of Tabby and the casual violence of the storm reflect the cruelty inherent in the natural and colonial world.

## Character check-ins

### Emily Thornton

Still saturated by the earthquake, she is silent and withdrawn; later uses the storm as a distraction but is haunted by Tabby's fate.

### John Dodson

Chatters about ponies, leads the children in marching games, and sobs during the storm.

### Mrs. Thornton

Worries about Emily's silence, tries to brighten her, and heroically recites Psalms and Sir Walter Scott during the hurricane.

### Edward Thornton

Present in the family group; mentioned among the children in the cellar.

### Sam

Lame-foot Sam steals Mr. Thornton's handkerchief, is struck by lightning, and dies; his body is carried inside.

### Tabby

Mentioned as having been torn to pieces by fiends; her fate haunts Emily.

## Key lines

> She ate earthquake and slept earthquake: her fingers and legs were earthquake.

Emily was so consumed by the earthquake experience that it permeated every aspect of her being.

_Illustrates Emily's complete absorption in the earthquake._

> Please God, I thieve you tomorrow. Please God, you still there?

Sam asks God's permission to steal the handkerchief tomorrow, hoping it will still be there.

_Shows Sam's superstitious and pragmatic approach to theft on a Sunday._

> The wind, to push against, was more like a solid block than a current of air.

The wind felt as dense and immovable as a solid object.

_Emphasizes the extraordinary force of the hurricane._

> All the children made the most of this unholy chance, but somehow to Emily the bottle got passed twice, and each time she took a good pull.

The children eagerly took advantage of the opportunity to drink, and Emily managed to get two swigs of madeira.

_Highlights the children's opportunistic behavior during the crisis._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters