A Little Princess · Chapter
In the Attic explained
Sara Crewe is forced to adapt to her new life as a servant after her father's death.
What happens
Sara Crewe is forced to adapt to her new life as a servant after her father's death. She is moved to a cold, rat-infested attic and given menial tasks, including teaching younger children and running errands. Despite her hardships, she finds comfort in her friendship with Becky and struggles with her changed status among the other pupils, particularly in an awkward encounter with Ermengarde.
Themes in this chapter
Resilience and Inner Strength
Sara's determination to endure her hardships without complaint, pretending her life is a war, and her refusal to beg for sympathy.
Social Class and Inequality
The drastic shift in Sara's social standing from a privileged pupil to a scullery-maid, and the resulting change in how others treat her.
Friendship and Loyalty
The quiet, supportive bond between Sara and Becky, and the strained but affectionate connection with Ermengarde.
Characters to notice
- Sara Crewe
Endures the first night in the attic, grieves her father's death, and begins her new life as a drudge, finding solace in pretending her situation is part of a war.
- Becky
Provides comfort to Sara from the other side of the attic wall, helps her dress before daybreak, and respects her need for solitude during grief.
- Ermengarde St. John
Returns from a visit and awkwardly encounters Sara, failing to express sympathy properly, leading Sara to feel hurt and misunderstood.
- Miss Minchin
Immediately imposes harsh new duties on Sara, removes her from her seat at the table, and instructs the staff to treat her as a servant.
- Lavinia Herbert
Takes Sara's former seat at Miss Minchin's side and comments scornfully on Sara's shabby appearance and changed behavior.
- Lottie Legh
Mentioned as having upset her tea at breakfast, one of the younger children Sara is tasked with supervising.
Key passages
“Soldiers don’t complain. I am not going to do it; I will pretend this is part of a war.”
Sara tells herself that she will not complain about her suffering, choosing instead to imagine it as a battle she must endure.
Illustrates Sara's use of imagination as a coping mechanism for her harsh new life.
“Don’t mind me, miss, if I don’t say nothin’ polite. Some un ’d be down on us if I did. I means ‘please’ an’ ‘thank you’ an’ ‘beg pardon,’ but I dassn’t to take time to say it.”
Becky apologizes in advance for not being able to speak politely, explaining that she would be punished if she took time to be courteous.
Highlights the oppressive environment where even basic politeness is forbidden for servants.