Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories · Chapter
V explained
Lord Arthur, after the failure of the poison plot, decides to blow up his uncle, the Dean of Chichester, using an explosive clock.
What happens
Lord Arthur, after the failure of the poison plot, decides to blow up his uncle, the Dean of Chichester, using an explosive clock. He seeks help from Count Rouvaloff, who directs him to Herr Winckelkopf, a German anarchist and inventor. Winckelkopf supplies him with a dynamite clock set to explode at noon on Friday. Meanwhile, Sybil remains loyal despite family pressure. After the planned explosion, Lord Arthur learns of Mr. Podgers' death by lightning and rushes to Sybil, declaring they can marry at once.
Themes in this chapter
Fate vs. Free Will
Arthur's frantic attempts to alter his prophesied fate through murder contrast with the ironic, accidental death of Podgers, which resolves the prophecy without Arthur's action.
Irony and Absurdity
The elaborate, farcical plot to murder the Dean using a decorative clock, the conspirator's casual breakfast conversation, and the ultimate irrelevance of Arthur's schemes highlight Wilde's comic irony.
Art and Aesthetics
Herr Winckelkopf's claim to live entirely for his art, treating bomb-making as a craft, and the description of the clock as a 'pretty little French clock' with an ormolu figure, underscore the aestheticization of violence.
Characters to notice
- Lord Arthur Savile
Decides to murder his uncle the Dean using an explosive clock; procures the device from Herr Winckelkopf; later rejoices at Podgers' death and rushes to Sybil.
- Sybil Merton
Remains faithful to Arthur despite her mother's attempts to break the match; joyfully agrees to marry him the next day after Podgers' death.
- Mr. Septimus R. Podgers
Reported dead by lightning strike; his death frees Arthur from the prophecy.
- Herr Winckelkopf
A German anarchist and inventor who supplies Arthur with an explosive clock; recognizes Arthur from Lady Windermere's.
- Count Rouvaloff
A Russian revolutionary who gives Arthur the address of Herr Winckelkopf.
- Lady Julia
Sybil's mother; tries to persuade Sybil to break off the engagement.
- Mr. Merton
Distressed by the second postponement of the marriage.
- Lady Windermere
Mentioned as the hostess where Arthur met Count Rouvaloff and where Winckelkopf saw him.
Key passages
“Poison having proved a complete failure, dynamite, or some other form of explosive, was obviously the proper thing to try.”
Since the poison didn't work, the next logical step was to use dynamite or another explosive.
Arthur's pragmatic yet absurd reasoning after the failure of his first murder attempt.
“I do not work for money; I live entirely for my art.”
I don't do this for payment; my work is my artistic calling.
Herr Winckelkopf's aesthetic justification for bomb-making, echoing Wilde's theme of art for art's sake.
“Let us be married tomorrow! ... You foolish boy! Why, the cake is not even ordered!”
We must marry at once! ... Don't be silly—we haven't even ordered the wedding cake!
Arthur's impulsive joy and Sybil's affectionate, practical response after Podgers' death.
