# XIX: What Is the Matter with Him? explained — Barriers Burned Away

> Chapter companion for Barriers Burned Away by Edward Payson Roe.

## What happens

Dennis awakens early, determined to avoid needing Christine's musical wake-up call. He prepares for their work together in the showroom, where Christine directs the rearrangement of paintings with authoritative precision. Dennis's intelligence and artistic taste impress her, and she begins to study him as an artistic subject. Their conversation touches on democracy, ambition, and art, with Dennis revealing his aspiration to learn about art. Later, Dennis receives encouragement from Mr. Bruder during a sketching lesson, and reflects on the transformative power of Christian grace, vowing to pray and work for Christine's spiritual awakening.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Ambition

Dennis's aspiration to learn about art and his natural taste align with Christine's artistic work; Mr. Bruder's lessons further Dennis's artistic development.

### Social Class and Barriers

Christine's aristocratic demeanor and Dennis's democratic beliefs highlight class divisions; Christine remarks on Dennis being 'above his station' yet treats him as a subordinate.

### Redemption and Transformation

Dennis reflects on the spiritual transformation possible for Christine, contrasting her current pride with the potential for Christian grace; Mr. Bruder's struggle with alcoholism shows signs of improvement.

## Character check-ins

### Dennis Fleet

Determined to avoid being awakened by Christine's music; shows care in his toilet; demonstrates artistic taste and intelligence during the picture arrangement; reveals his ambition to learn about art; later reflects on Christine's spiritual state and vows to pray for her.

### Christine Ludolph

Appears with her father, dressed in a close-fitting walking-dress; directs the picture rearrangement with dictatorial authority; secretly studies Dennis as an artistic subject; shows pleasure at his compliments but remains cold and self-centred; arrives the next morning in a rubber suit despite the rain.

### Mr. Ludolph

Accompanies Christine to the store; mentioned as having practiced hand in billiards.

### Mr. Bruder

Comments on Dennis's sketches, offering guidance and lessons; struggles with his drinking habit but shows signs of improvement; his wife's face reflects fading misery.

### Mrs. Bruder

Her face shows the sharp look of misery fading out, indicating positive change.

## Key lines

> If the blood should come into the cheeks of one of her father's statues, and the white marble eyes turn to violet blue, and the snowy hair to wavy gold, and it should spring from its pedestal into just such life, it would be more like her than any woman I ever saw.

Dennis thinks Christine resembles a living statue come to life, with her cold, marble-like beauty.

_Highlights Dennis's perception of Christine as both beautiful and emotionally distant._

> After all, the highest art is to bring out on the living face all we can of God's lost image.

Dennis concludes that the truest art is revealing divine goodness in human faces.

_Reflects Dennis's spiritual view of art and his concern for Christine's soul._

> Little dreamed Christine, as she slept that night, that the first link of a chain which might bind her to heaven had been forged.

Christine is unaware that Dennis's vow to pray for her has begun a spiritual connection that could lead to her salvation.

_Foreshadows Christine's potential spiritual transformation through Dennis's influence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barriers_burned_away_se/chapters/xix-what-is-the-matter-with-him
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barriers_burned_away_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barriers_burned_away_se/chapters