# Picus explained — Armed with Madness

> Chapter companion for Armed with Madness by Mary Butts.

## What happens

Picus visits his mother's grave in a churchyard at night, wrestling with grief, resentment, and confusion over her suicide. He confronts his hatred for his father, his fear of losing Scylla, and his guilt over Clarence's decline. After a fit of weeping and anger, he throws pebbles at a nearby house and is let in by an old man.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Search for Meaning and Transcendence

Picus grapples with the mystery of his mother's death and seeks understanding and connection from her grave.

### Sexuality and Desire

Picus's conflicted feelings for Scylla and his hatred of women are tied to his mother's abandonment.

## Character check-ins

### Picus

Visits his mother's grave, grieves and rages, then goes to an old man's house.

### Scylla Taverner

Picus thinks of her with longing and fear, recalling her words about his mother.

### Clarence

Picus worries that his own actions caused Clarence's decline.

### Dudley Carston

Picus resents Carston and fears he will take Scylla.

### Ross

Picus recalls Ross's stable tip in invisible affairs.

## Key lines

> Pretty mother, why did you do it?

Picus asks his dead mother why she committed suicide.

_Expresses his bewilderment and grief._

> And Carston shan't have Scylla if he does call the old man's bluff.

Picus resolves that Carston will not win Scylla even if he exposes the old man.

_Shows Picus's jealousy and possessiveness._

> He had the usual difficulty in extracting the glowworm from the grass.

Picus struggles to pick up a glowworm.

_A moment of dark whimsy amid his anguish._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/armed_with_madness_se/chapters/picus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/armed_with_madness_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/armed_with_madness_se/chapters