Lavengro · Chapter
LXXXII explained
After a physical altercation with Jasper Petulengro over the death of Mrs.
What happens
After a physical altercation with Jasper Petulengro over the death of Mrs. Hearne, the narrator declines Jasper's invitation to join the Romani camp and instead seeks solitude. Jasper advises him to a secluded dingle where he can practice his trade of blacksmithing.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Roving
The narrator's journey to the dingle and his decision to live a solitary life as a blacksmith reflect a roving, independent spirit.
The Gypsy and the Outsider
Jasper's Romani identity and the narrator's interaction with him highlight the theme of the outsider and the gypsy lifestyle.
Honor and Morality
The fight over Mrs. Hearne's death and the narrator's refusal to join the Romani camp due to guilt demonstrate themes of honor and moral responsibility.
Characters to notice
- Lavengro
Engages in a fight with Jasper, declines the offer to join the Romani camp, and seeks a solitary place to practice blacksmithing.
- Jasper Petulengro
Challenges the narrator to a fight over Mrs. Hearne, then invites him to the Romani camp and later advises him to the dingle.
- Ursula
Mentioned as Jasper's wife's sister, who is unmarried and occasionally talks of the narrator.
- Mrs. Herne
Referenced as the old woman whose death is the cause of the fight between the narrator and Jasper.
- Leonora
Mentioned by Jasper as a girl with a head on her shoulders who will not reveal the secret of Mrs. Hearne's death.
Key passages
“Brother, there is much blood on your face, you had better wipe it off;”
Jasper tells the narrator to wipe the blood from his face after their fight.
Shows the aftermath of the physical confrontation and Jasper's concern.
“I think enough has been done, brother, in the affair of the old woman;”
Jasper declares the fight sufficient to settle the matter concerning Mrs. Hearne.
Indicates the resolution of the conflict over the old woman's death.
“I am become fond of solitude. I wish I could find some quiet place to which I could retire to hold communion with my own thoughts, and practise, if I thought fit, either of my trades.”
The narrator expresses his desire for solitude and a place to practice his blacksmithing.
Reveals the narrator's introspective turn and his need for isolation.