Calvary · Chapter
XII explained
After killing Spy, the narrator is consumed by guilt and horror, comparing the act to his wartime killing.
What happens
After killing Spy, the narrator is consumed by guilt and horror, comparing the act to his wartime killing. He desperately seeks forgiveness from Juliette, writing abject letters and begging at her door, but is repeatedly rebuffed by the maid Celestine. In a spiral of obsession, he wanders Paris searching for Juliette, and finally witnesses her arriving home with Lirat, leading to a confrontation.
Themes in this chapter
Self-Destruction and Obsession
The narrator's obsessive pursuit of Juliette and his self-degrading letters highlight his spiral into self-destruction.
Love and Corruption
Juliette's manipulation and the narrator's desperate love are corrupted by jealousy and violence.
War and Disillusionment
The narrator's memory of killing a Prussian soldier parallels his guilt over killing Spy, showing war's lasting trauma.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
Overwhelmed by guilt after killing Spy, he writes desperate letters to Juliette and stalks her home.
- Juliette Roux
Refuses to see the narrator after the killing of Spy; is seen smiling and happy, then returns home with Lirat.
- Spy
Killed by the narrator; his corpse haunts the narrator's thoughts.
- Celestine
The maid who mocks and refuses entry to the narrator, eventually threatening to call the police.
- Lirat
Arrives at Juliette's house with her; the narrator confronts him in shock and anger.
- Gabrielle Bernier
Briefly considered by the narrator as someone to confide in for reconciliation with Juliette.
Key passages
“When I regained my senses, the killing of Spy appeared to me a monstrous crime. I was as horrified as if I had killed a child.”
Upon coming to, I saw the murder of Spy as a terrible atrocity, shocking me as much as if I had slain a child.
The narrator's immediate guilt and horror after killing the dog.
“I wrote her letters of repentance, assured her that from now on I was going to be satisfied with what little attention she might give me, that I would never again complain, that I was not going to reproach her for her behavior; my letters were so humble, so self-degrading, so vilely submissive that a person other than Juliette would feel disgusted on reading them.”
I penned repentant letters promising to accept any scraps of her attention, never complain, and stop reproaching her—so abject and degrading that anyone else would have been disgusted.
The narrator's desperate, self-humiliating attempts to win back Juliette.
“It occurred to me to see Gabrielle Bernier, to tell her my troubles, to ask her advice, and use her offices for a reconciliation with Juliette.”
I thought of visiting Gabrielle Bernier to share my woes and seek her help in reconciling with Juliette.
The narrator considers turning to Gabrielle for mediation.
“Suddenly I saw Juliette. I saw her for a second, in profile. She wore a pink hat, looked fresh, was smiling; she seemed happy.”
Then I glimpsed Juliette briefly in profile, wearing a pink hat, looking fresh and smiling, appearing happy.
The narrator spots Juliette looking carefree, which deepens his anguish.
“Lirat going home with Juliette. That could not be! I had lost my senses!”
Lirat accompanying Juliette home—impossible! I thought I had gone mad.
The narrator's shock at seeing Lirat with Juliette.
