Jurgen · Chapter
XXXIII: Farewell to Chloris explained
Jurgen bids a poignant farewell to Chloris, the hamadryad, as the Philistines prepare to execute their doom.
What happens
Jurgen bids a poignant farewell to Chloris, the hamadryad, as the Philistines prepare to execute their doom. Chloris's tree is felled for Queen Dolores's bedstead, condemning her to a somber afterlife in asphodel fields. Jurgen, sentenced to the Hell of his fathers, receives a pardon and appointment as Poet Laureate and Mathematician Royal from Queen Dolores, but he rejects them, tearing up her letter and crumpling the parchments. He submits to his doom, reflecting on his love for Chloris and his regrets.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Jurgen and Chloris's final exchange reveals a quiet, cordial love, with Chloris lamenting Jurgen's future romances and Jurgen expressing regret for not being kinder.
Self-Deception and Identity
Jurgen's heroic rejection of the pardon is undercut by his inability to tear the parchments, revealing his self-awareness and the gap between his self-image and reality.
Compromise and Conformity
Jurgen's refusal to conform to Philistine laws by rejecting the pardon, yet ultimately submitting to their devices, highlights the tension between rebellion and compliance.
Characters to notice
- Jurgen
Bids farewell to Chloris, rejects Queen Dolores's pardon, and submits to his doom in the Hell of his fathers.
- Chloris
The hamadryad whose tree is felled, leading to her death and departure to a somber afterlife; she professes her love for Jurgen despite her fate.
- Queen Dolores
Orders the felling of Chloris's tree for a bedstead and sends Jurgen a pardon and appointments, which he rejects.
Key passages
“I am sorry— he said. And yet I have loved you, Chloris.”
Jurgen apologizes to Chloris but affirms his love for her.
Jurgen expresses regret and love in their farewell.
“That is my comfort now. And presently there will be Lethê. I put the greater faith in Lethê.”
Chloris finds comfort in the thought of drinking from Lethê and forgetting her love for Jurgen.
Chloris looks forward to oblivion as a release from her attachment.
“This is my answer, said Jurgen heroically, and with some admiration of himself, but still a little dashed by the uncalled-for toughness of the parchments.”
Jurgen tries to make a grand gesture by crumpling the parchments, but their toughness undermines his dignity.
Jurgen's attempt at a heroic rejection is comically thwarted by the physical resistance of the documents.