Black Beauty · Chapter
Old Captain and His Successor explained
Captain is severely injured in an accident caused by a drunken drayman, leading Jerry to euthanize him rather than sell him into misery.
What happens
Captain is severely injured in an accident caused by a drunken drayman, leading Jerry to euthanize him rather than sell him into misery. Jerry then acquires a new horse, Hotspur, a spirited but gentle young horse who adapts well to cab work. The chapter also includes a conversation between Jerry and Grant about overcoming alcohol addiction.
Themes in this chapter
Animal Welfare and Cruelty
Captain's suffering and euthanasia due to a drunken driver's negligence, and Jerry's refusal to sell him into further hardship.
Kindness and Empathy
Jerry's compassionate decision to euthanize Captain rather than sell him to a life of misery, and his gentle handling of Hotspur.
Characters to notice
- Black Beauty
Narrator and observer of Captain's accident and Hotspur's arrival.
- Captain
Old cab horse who is fatally injured in a collision caused by a drunken drayman and is euthanized by Jerry.
- Jeremiah Barker
Cab driver who cares for Captain, decides to euthanize him, and later buys Hotspur; also shares his struggle with alcohol.
- Hotspur
New horse acquired by Jerry after Captain's death; a spirited but gentle young horse who adapts to cab work.
- Mr. Grant
Governor who discusses overcoming alcohol addiction with Jerry.
Key passages
“Give up the drink or lose your soul! Give up the drink or break Polly’s heart!”
Abandon alcohol or risk eternal damnation and causing your wife profound sorrow.
Jerry describes his internal struggle to overcome alcohol addiction.
“If there's one devil that I should like to see in the bottomless pit more than another, it's the drink devil.”
If there is any evil I wish to see destroyed, it is the demon of alcohol.
Jerry expresses his strong condemnation of alcohol after Captain's accident.
“It is my belief that it made the horse mad, being tender in the mouth and so full of spirit.”
I think the tight harness and severe bit drove the horse crazy because he had a sensitive mouth and was full of energy.
The under-groom explains why Hotspur ran away and caused an accident.