Bashan and I · Chapter
The Chase explained
The narrator describes the hunting expeditions he undertakes with Bashan, emphasizing that the chase is pursued for its own sake rather than for tangible results.
What happens
The narrator describes the hunting expeditions he undertakes with Bashan, emphasizing that the chase is pursued for its own sake rather than for tangible results. He reflects on Bashan's ancestral instincts and the joy they both derive from the hunt. The chapter also recounts an incident where Bashan's health issues lead to a visit to a veterinary clinic, and the narrator's subsequent boredom during Bashan's absence. The narrative returns to the thrill of the chase, detailing the dynamics of rabbit hunting and the narrator's imaginative desires for a more effective hunting tool.
Themes in this chapter
Instinct vs. Civilization
The narrator contemplates whether Bashan's hunting behavior is driven by inherited ancestral memories, contrasting raw instinct with the civilized observer's perspective.
The Pursuit of Joy
Both Bashan and the narrator find joy in the chase itself, independent of any practical outcome, highlighting the intrinsic pleasure of the activity.
Observation and Reflection
The narrator closely observes Bashan's actions and his own reactions, reflecting on the nature of the hunt, the dog's health, and the meaning of their shared experiences.
Characters to notice
- Bashan
The active hunter, whose passion for the chase is undiminished by lack of prey; also the patient at the veterinary clinic, described as nervous and anæmic.
- The Narrator
The observer and companion in the hunt, who reflects on Bashan's instincts and feels bored and listless during Bashan's absence.
- Percy
Mentioned indirectly as the predecessor whose loss led to the acquisition of Bashan; not directly present in this chapter.
Key passages
“We pursue the chase for its own sake and not for the sake of prey or booty or any other utilitarian purpose.”
The hunt is an end in itself, not a means to obtain food or profit.
Highlights the non-utilitarian, aesthetic nature of the hunting expeditions.
“I follow the course of events with the greatest interest and tension. It is not as if anything were ever to result from this chase, for that has never happened and never will happen.”
I watch the hunt with intense excitement, even though it never leads to any actual capture.
Emphasizes the narrator's engagement with the chase despite its futility.
“No silent tumult of joy burst upon me when I went out—under way no proud, high, mad helter-skelter of the chase surrounded me. The park seemed to me desolate—I was bored.”
Without Bashan, my walks lacked excitement and joy; the park felt empty and I was bored.
Illustrates the narrator's dependence on Bashan for pleasure and the emptiness of the walks without him.