# VI explained — Disenchantment

> Chapter companion for Disenchantment by C. E. Montague.

## What happens

The chapter describes the gradual evaporation of illusions among the New Army recruits as they begin to distrust their pastors and masters, reacting against the overly simple beliefs they held at the start of the war.

## Themes in this chapter

### Disillusionment and Disenchantment

The recruits begin to lose their illusions about the war and their leaders, as described by the evaporating steam of illusion.

### Simplification vs. Complexity

The chapter contrasts the initial simple trust in pastors and masters with the later reaction of believing little or nothing.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator reflects on the incomplete view of the case and the reaction of the New Army.

### Harry

Mentioned as part of the list of Henries, Fluellens, and Erpinghams.

### Ancient Pistol

Mentioned as part of the list of Bardolphs, Pistols, and Nyms.

## Key lines

> From any English training-camp, about that time, you almost seemed to see a light steam rising, as it does from a damp horse. This was illusion beginning to evaporate.

In the training camps, one could almost perceive a visible vapor of disillusionment rising, like steam from a wet horse, as the recruits' false beliefs started to fade.

_The narrator uses a vivid metaphor to describe the loss of illusion among the soldiers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/disenchantment_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/disenchantment_se/chapters