IX explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Family Conflict and Misunderstanding

  The ongoing discord between Mr. and Mrs. Iden over trivial matters like dew-wading highlights deep familial misunderstanding.

• The Passage of Time and Loss

  The chapter reflects on how years of marriage and life have dulled original feelings, culminating in the sad visit to the theatre after Old Flamma's funeral.

• Individual vs. Society

  Mr. Iden's solitary dew-wading is condemned by Mrs. Iden because 'nobody else does it,' illustrating the pressure to conform.

Characters to notice

• Amaryllis Iden

  Amaryllis is hurt by the discord between her parents.

• Mr. Iden

  Mr. Iden enjoys walking barefoot in the dew, which provokes Mrs. Iden's anger. He is portrayed as having great potential unfulfilled.

• Mrs. Iden

  Mrs. Iden is scornful of her husband's dew-wading, but shares moments of tenderness with him over lavender. Her past beauty and vivacity contrast with her current life.

• Old Flamma

  Old Flamma, Mrs. Iden's father, dies in London, prompting the trip to the funeral and theatre.

Key passages

• “This discordance between her father and mother hurt Amaryllis’ affectionate heart exceedingly.”

  The constant conflict between her parents deeply pained Amaryllis.

  Opens the chapter with Amaryllis's emotional distress.

• “If only it could have lasted! Somehow, as people grow older there seems so much grating of the wheels.”

  The brief harmony over lavender was fleeting; aging brings increasing friction.

  Reflects on the erosion of marital harmony over time.

• “They sat at the theatre with grey hearts. With the music and the song, the dancing, the colours and gay dresses, it was sadder there than in the silent rooms at the house where the dead had been.”

  At the theatre, amidst entertainment, they felt more sorrow than at the funeral, as it reminded them of their own lost youth and joy.

  Highlights the tragic irony of seeking pleasure after a funeral.