XII: The Agony of Captain Grimes explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Marriage as Transaction

  Grimes's marriage to Flossie is portrayed as a pragmatic solution to his troubles, and Dr. Fagan offers a partnership in exchange for a son-in-law.

• Social Class and Snobbery

  Dr. Fagan laments that Grimes is not a gentleman, revealing his own snobbery despite marrying a lower-class woman.

• Hypocrisy and Corruption

  Philbrick's false identities and Grimes's hidden marriage highlight the pervasive deceit among the characters.

Characters to notice

• Paul Pennyfeather

  Receives Margot's offer to tutor Peter; declines Dr. Fagan's partnership proposal; hosts a dinner for Grimes and Prendergast.

• Captain Grimes

  Reveals he is already married; announces engagement to Flossie; despondent about the marriage; attends the dinner at the Hotel Metropole.

• Mr. Prendergast

  Attends the dinner; makes a joke about soles and souls; discusses marriage and Flossie.

• Philbrick

  Sends champagne to Grimes; denies his earlier stories about being a shipowner, novelist, and burglar; leaves the hotel with obsequious service.

• Dr. Fagan

  Confronts Paul about Grimes's misconduct; offers Paul a partnership in Llanabba; decides the wedding will take place in a week.

• Peter Beste-Chetwynde

  Plays the organ in church; reads his mother's letter to Paul; reports on Tangent's foot.

Key passages

• “I don't think I played that terribly well, do you, sir?" "No." "Shall I stop for a bit?" "I wish you would."”

  Peter asks Paul if his organ playing was bad, and Paul agrees, suggesting he stop.

  Shows Paul's disinterest and the casual dynamic between tutor and student.

• “I have this morning received a severe shock, two shocks in fact. The first was disagreeable, but not wholly unexpected. Your colleague, Captain Grimes, has been convicted before me, on evidence that leaves no possibility of his innocence, of a crime—I might almost call it a course of action—which I can neither understand nor excuse.”

  Dr. Fagan tells Paul he has discovered Grimes's misconduct and is shocked by it.

  Reveals Dr. Fagan's distress and the seriousness of Grimes's situation.

• “I could have forgiven him his wooden leg, his slavish poverty, his moral turpitude, and his abominable features; I could even have forgiven him his incredible vocabulary, if only he had been a gentleman.”

  Dr. Fagan says he would overlook Grimes's many flaws if he were of a higher social class.

  Highlights the theme of social class and snobbery.

• “My first marriage," said Grimes, "didn't make much odds either way. It was in Ireland. I was tight at the time, and so was everyone else. God knows what became of Mrs. Grimes.”

  Grimes casually mentions he was already married in a drunken ceremony in Ireland.

  Illustrates Grimes's irresponsibility and the farcical nature of marriage in the novel.