The Water Cure explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Pretension and Phoniness

  The narrator suspects Bishop is not the wealthy scenario writer he claims to be, highlighting the theme of pretense and social deception.

• Marriage and Domestic Life

  The narrator's interactions with his wife and sister-in-law show the dynamics of domestic life, including disagreements and playful banter.

• Humor in Everyday Struggles

  The narrator uses humor to cope with the heat, the boat trip, and the annoyance of Bishop's presence, finding comedy in mundane situations.

Characters to notice

• Unknown Narrator

  The narrator is skeptical of Bishop's claims and tries to investigate his background, but ultimately decides to tolerate the situation. He also engages in humorous observations during the boat trip.

• Bess

  Bess is visiting and is romantically interested in Elmer Bishop, despite the narrator's doubts about Bishop's character and finances.

• Mr. Bishop

  Bishop is Bess's love interest, claiming to be a scenario writer earning ten thousand a year, but the narrator discovers he is actually an extra earning five dollars a day.

• Mrs. Hatch

  The narrator's wife is supportive of Bess and Bishop's relationship and defends Bishop's honesty, much to the narrator's frustration.

Key passages

• “why don’t he pay a little puny debt?” “He’s probably forgot it,” says she. “Did he look like he’d forgot it?” I ast her.”

  The narrator questions why Bishop hasn't paid a small debt, and his wife suggests he might have forgotten, but the narrator doubts that.

  This exchange highlights the narrator's suspicion of Bishop's character.

• “I called up the Criterion people and ast them if they was goin’ to hire a scenario writer name Elmer Bishop. “Never heard of him,” was what they told me.”

  The narrator investigates Bishop's claims by calling the Criterion studio, who say they've never heard of him.

  This reveals the narrator's attempt to expose Bishop's possible deception.

• ““He ain’t no scenario writer. He’s what we call an extra. He plays small parts sometimes.””

  The Western studio tells the narrator that Bishop is not a scenario writer but an extra who plays small parts.

  This confirms the narrator's suspicion that Bishop is not as successful as he claims.

• ““I hope we got a reliable pilot today,” says Bishop. “He’s only just a kid,” I says; “and I noticed him staggerin’ when he come aboard.””

  Bishop expresses concern about the pilot, and the narrator jokes that the pilot is just a kid who was staggering when he boarded.

  This humorous exchange occurs during the boat trip.

• ““I’m not lookin’ for bright companionship,” she says. “I want a change.””

  The narrator's wife says she isn't looking for intelligent company but for a change of scenery.

  This reflects her boredom with the usual routine.