Amaryllis at the Fair · Chapter
XXVII explained
This chapter explores the character and lifestyle of Alere Flamma, an artist and engraver who works in Fleet Street.
What happens
This chapter explores the character and lifestyle of Alere Flamma, an artist and engraver who works in Fleet Street. It describes his refusal to conform to social expectations (such as wearing a dress coat), his unconventional work habits, his passion for wild flowers and landscape sketches, and his vast collection of sketches. The chapter also reflects on the passage of time and the fading of romance with age, while highlighting Flamma's unique artistic vision and his disdain for commercial demands.
Themes in this chapter
Art, Ambition, and Failure
Alere Flamma's artistic genius is contrasted with his refusal to commercialize his work, leading to a modest income from book covers and sketches rather than the lucrative portrait commissions he could have pursued. His inability to draw what others want highlights the tension between artistic integrity and financial success.
The Passage of Time and Loss
The chapter reflects on the fading of romance with age: 'as we grow older the romance fades, and all things become commonplace.' Wild flowers alone remain fresh and dear, symbolizing a timeless connection to nature and memory.
Individual vs. Society
Alere Flamma's refusal to wear a dress coat and his disregard for social norms (smoking in a fire-prone building, working in shirtsleeves) set him apart from the expectations of clubs and high society. He lives on his own terms, even at the cost of social exclusion.
Characters to notice
- Old Flamma
Alere Flamma is the central figure of the chapter, depicted as a multi-talented artist, engraver, and printer who works in his shirtsleeves, drinks stout, and smokes on the sly. He is a man of many contradictions: a gentleman shaken to pieces, a dreamer, a republican, and a lover of wild flowers.
Key passages
“By no possible means could Alere Flamma work himself into a dress coat. The clubs, the houses of the great, the mutual admiration dinners—those great institutions of the day—were all closed to him because of the Dress Coat.”
Alere Flamma absolutely refused to wear a dress coat, which meant he was excluded from high-society events and clubs.
This introduces Alere's nonconformity and rejection of social conventions.
“Half our lives are spent in wishing for tomorrow, the other half in wishing for yesterday.”
We spend half our lives longing for the future and the other half longing for the past.
A reflection on the passage of time and human dissatisfaction.
“Wild flowers alone never become commonplace.”
Only wild flowers remain perpetually fresh and interesting, never losing their appeal.
Highlights Alere's enduring passion for wild flowers as a source of beauty and meaning.