Lorna Doone · Chapter
John Is Bewitched explained
John Ridd, deeply lovesick for Lorna Doone, finds his daily life and work disrupted by his obsessive thoughts.
What happens
John Ridd, deeply lovesick for Lorna Doone, finds his daily life and work disrupted by his obsessive thoughts. His distracted state leads to gossip among the farmhands, particularly John Fry, whom he thrashes for spreading a rumor that a mad dog bit him. Seeking a remedy for his chapped hands and hoping to find a pretext to see Lorna, John decides to consult the local wise woman, Mother Melldrum, who lives in the Valley of Rocks near Linton. The chapter also describes the harsh east wind that blights the spring growth, mirroring John's own emotional turmoil.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
John's all-consuming love for Lorna dominates his thoughts and actions, causing him to neglect his duties and endure mockery, yet he remains devoted to her.
Nature and the Rural World
The harsh east wind and blighted spring growth mirror John's emotional state, and the rural landscape of Exmoor is vividly described, including the Valley of Rocks and Tarr Steps.
Characters to notice
- John Ridd
John is lovesick and distracted, unable to focus on farm work. He thrashes John Fry for spreading a rumor about a mad dog bite, and decides to consult Mother Melldrum about his chapped hands as a pretext to see Lorna.
- Lorna Doone
Lorna is the object of John's obsessive thoughts. He imagines she might also have chapped hands and hopes to use this as an excuse to visit her.
- John Fry
John Fry spreads the rumor that John Ridd was bitten by a mad dog, leading to a thrashing from John.
- Betty Muxworthy
Betty mocks John's lovesick state by barking like a dog and pretending he bit her, especially when he is lost in thought about Lorna.
- Mother Melldrum
Mother Melldrum is the wise woman John decides to consult about his chapped hands. She lives in a cave near Tarr-steps in summer and in the Valley of Rocks in winter.
- Mistress Ridd
John's mother is worried about his strange behavior and half-believes the mad dog rumor, surreptitiously placing pans of water near him to test for hydrophobia.
Key passages
“However, I could not bring myself to consult anyone upon this point, at least in our own neighbourhood, nor even to speak of it near home.”
John was too embarrassed to ask anyone locally about his chapped hands or his feelings for Lorna.
John's reluctance to seek advice reflects his isolation and the secrecy of his love.
“I gave John Fry the soundest threshing that ever a sheaf of good corn deserved, or a bundle of tares was blessed with.”
John beat John Fry severely for spreading the mad dog rumor.
John's violent reaction shows his frustration and the depth of his emotional turmoil.
“I felt a sad delight at being doomed to blight and loneliness.”
John took a melancholy pleasure in imagining that his love would lead to disappointment.
This reflects John's romantic and self-pitying state of mind.