Cranford · Chapter
II: The Captain explained
The narrator describes the daily habits and poverty of the Brown family, focusing on Captain Brown's kindness and eccentricities.
What happens
The narrator describes the daily habits and poverty of the Brown family, focusing on Captain Brown's kindness and eccentricities. Miss Brown's lingering illness and irritable temper are revealed, and her death follows Captain Brown's accidental death by train. Miss Jessie Brown, now orphaned, is comforted by the Cranford ladies and eventually reunites with her former lover, Major Gordon, whom she marries. The chapter ends with a glimpse of an aged Miss Jenkyns, cared for by little Flora Gordon.
Themes in this chapter
Death and Mortality
Captain Brown's sudden death by train and Miss Brown's lingering illness and death dominate the chapter, exploring grief and the afterlife.
Kindness and Moral Character
Captain Brown's selfless acts (helping the old woman, making a fire-shovel) and Miss Jessie's patient care for her sister highlight moral goodness.
Love and Marriage
Major Gordon and Miss Jessie's reunion and marriage conclude the chapter, showing love overcoming misunderstanding and grief.
Characters to notice
- Captain Brown
Shows infinite kindness, makes a wooden fire-shovel for Miss Jenkyns, and is killed by a train.
- Miss Jessie Brown
Cares for her dying sister, loses her father, and later marries Major Gordon.
- Miss Deborah Jenkyns
Attends Captain Brown's funeral in a helmet-like bonnet, supports Miss Jessie, and later becomes feeble and cared for by Flora Gordon.
- Miss Matty Jenkyns
Assists in nursing Miss Brown and is shocked to see Major Gordon with his arm around Miss Jessie.
- Mary Smith
Observes and recounts the events, helps nurse Miss Brown, and later visits an aged Miss Jenkyns.
- Major Gordon
Returns from abroad after learning of Captain Brown's death, reconciles with and marries Miss Jessie.
Key passages
“He was a man of infinite resources, gained in his barrack experience. As he confessed, no one could black his boots to please him except himself; but, indeed, he was not above saving the little maidservant’s labours in every way—knowing, most likely, that his daughter’s illness made the place a hard one.”
Captain Brown was very resourceful from his military days; he insisted on polishing his own boots and often helped the maid, probably because his daughter's illness made her job difficult.
Illustrates Captain Brown's practical kindness and awareness of others' burdens.
“A light came into Miss Jessie’s face. “Would it comfort you, dearest, to think that he does know?—would it comfort you, love, to know that his cares, his sorrows”—Her voice quivered, but she steadied it into calmness—“Mary! he has gone before you to the place where the weary are at rest. He knows now how you loved him.””
Miss Jessie's face brightened as she gently told her dying sister that their father had already died and was at peace, and that he now understood her love.
Shows Miss Jessie's tenderness and the comfort of faith in the face of death.
“The most proper place in the world for his arm to be in. Go away, Matilda, and mind your own business.”
Miss Jenkyns scolds Miss Matty for being shocked that Major Gordon has his arm around Miss Jessie, declaring it entirely appropriate.
Highlights Miss Jenkyns's pragmatic and surprisingly modern view on propriety when it comes to love.