Giant’s Bread · Chapter
II: Letters from Vernon Deyre to Sebastian Levinne explained
Vernon writes to Sebastian from Moscow, reflecting on a Russian legend about a 'nameless beast' and connecting it to his own lifelong fear of 'the Beast,' which he now sees as symbolic of his cowardice and avoidance.
What happens
Vernon writes to Sebastian from Moscow, reflecting on a Russian legend about a 'nameless beast' and connecting it to his own lifelong fear of 'the Beast,' which he now sees as symbolic of his cowardice and avoidance. He discusses theories of time and destiny, his failed attempts to escape music, and the loss of Abbots Puissants and Nell. He confesses he feels empty and unable to compose, though Jane Harding reassures him.
Themes in this chapter
- Art and Genius
Vernon grapples with his relationship to music, feeling both compelled and repelled by his artistic calling.
- Identity and Memory
Vernon explores theories of time and memory, questioning whether one can 'remember forward' and confronting his own cowardice.
- War and Loss
Vernon reflects on losing Abbots Puissants and Nell, and the emptiness left after these losses.
Characters to notice
- Vernon Deyre
Writes a letter from Moscow, analyzing his fear of 'the Beast' as symbolic of his cowardice and destiny.
- Sebastian Levinne
The recipient of Vernon's letter; Vernon references Sebastian's past hints about his cowardice.
- Jane Harding
Mentioned as sending love to Sebastian and expressing confidence that Vernon's musical inspiration will return.
Key passages
“I’ve begun to see that all through my life I’ve been a coward. I think you’ve known that, Sebastian. You wouldn’t put it in that offensive way, but you hinted as much to me once. I’ve run away from things.”
Vernon admits to Sebastian that he has always been a coward and has fled from challenges, acknowledging that Sebastian had subtly pointed this out before.
Vernon's self-realization about his pattern of avoidance.
“Don’t mathematicians say that the future exists at the same time as the past?—that we travel through time as we travel through space?—from a thing that is to another thing that is?”
Vernon wonders if time is like space, with past and future both existing simultaneously, and if we simply move through them.
Vernon's philosophical musing on the nature of time and destiny.
“I tried to escape from music—but it got me. It got me at that concert, in the same way that religion got those people at the Salvation Army meeting.”
Vernon attempted to avoid music, but it seized him at a concert just as religious fervor overtakes people at a revival meeting.
Vernon's struggle with his inescapable musical vocation.
