Barnaby Rudge · Chapter
Chapter 17 explained
In this chapter, Barnaby returns home from a day of adventure with Hugh and Grip, full of excitement and tales of their exploits.
What happens
In this chapter, Barnaby returns home from a day of adventure with Hugh and Grip, full of excitement and tales of their exploits. His mother, however, is deeply anxious and fearful, haunted by a secret. A mysterious man, revealed to be the robber from the Chigwell road, forces his way into the widow's home, demanding food and shelter. He threatens her, revealing a dark connection to her past and a hold over her through her son. The chapter ends with the widow praying for divine protection for Barnaby, as the man leaves with a warning of revenge.
Themes in this chapter
Guilt and Retribution
The widow's secret past and the man's threat of revenge highlight the theme of guilt and the fear of retribution that haunts her.
Madness and Perception
Barnaby's visions and his mother's fear of his perception of reality underscore the theme of madness and the blurred line between what is real and imagined.
Parental Love and Sacrifice
The widow's desperate prayer for her son's protection, even as she faces a threat, exemplifies the theme of parental love and sacrifice.
Characters to notice
- Barnaby Rudge
Returns home from a day of adventure with Hugh and Grip, full of excitement and tales of their exploits. His mother's fear unsettles him, and he shows signs of his recurring visions.
- Mrs. Rudge
The widow is deeply anxious and fearful, haunted by a secret. She is confronted by the robber from the Chigwell road, who threatens her and reveals a hold over her through her son.
- Grip
Barnaby's raven, who accompanies him on his adventures and shows a keen awareness of the stranger's presence, watching him intently.
- Hugh
Mentioned as having been with Barnaby during the day's adventures, though not present in the chapter.
- The Blind Man
The mysterious companion who forces his way into the widow's home, revealed to be the robber from the Chigwell road. He threatens her and hints at a dark connection to her past.
Key passages
“But Barnaby sprung lightly in without assistance, and putting his arms about her neck, kissed her a hundred times.”
Barnaby jumped in easily and hugged his mother, kissing her many times.
Shows Barnaby's affectionate and childlike nature.
“The raven, in his little basket at his master’s back, hearing this frequent mention of his name in a tone of exultation, expressed his sympathy by crowing like a cock, and afterwards running over his various phrases of speech with such rapidity, and in so many varieties of hoarseness, that they sounded like the murmurs of a crowd of people.”
The raven, hearing his name praised, crowed and then rapidly repeated his phrases in many hoarse voices, sounding like a crowd.
Highlights Grip's intelligence and the bond between him and Barnaby.
“He takes such care of me besides! Such care, mother! He watches all the time I sleep, and when I shut my eyes and make-believe to slumber, he practises new learning softly; but he keeps his eye on me the while, and if he sees me laugh, though never so little, stops directly.”
He takes great care of me, watching me while I sleep and practicing his lessons quietly, but stops if he sees me laugh.
Shows Grip's protective and attentive nature toward Barnaby.
“The listener held the door of his hiding-place open with his hand, and closely watched her son.”
The hidden man held the door open and watched Barnaby closely.
Reveals the presence of the mysterious man in the room.
“Grip—alive to everything his master was unconscious of—had his head out of the basket, and in return was watching him intently with his glistening eye.”
Grip, aware of things Barnaby didn't notice, watched the man intently.
Shows Grip's heightened perception compared to Barnaby.
“You are frightened! Mother—you don’t see—”
You're scared! Mother, you don't see—
Barnaby notices his mother's fear and begins to question what she sees.
