Master Flea · Chapter
Fifth Adventure explained
Peregrine Tyss, devastated by the sudden snatching of Dörtje Elverdink by George Pepusch, is consoled by Master Flea, who advises him to abandon his solitary life and seek society.
What happens
Peregrine Tyss, devastated by the sudden snatching of Dörtje Elverdink by George Pepusch, is consoled by Master Flea, who advises him to abandon his solitary life and seek society. Using the microscopic glass, Peregrine observes the contradictions between words and thoughts in social gatherings, particularly among poets and bluestockings. Meanwhile, old Alina reveals that Dörtje is in the house with Mr. Swammer and has been dressing herself, and that Swammerdam and Leeuwenhoek have subdued Pepusch. Dörtje expresses a wish for a tiny negro boy, which Peregrine recognizes as a reference to Master Flea. Disturbed, Peregrine flees to a wood, where he reflects on his strange adventures and considers whether Master Flea might be an evil demon, but the Flea defends himself, citing philosophical works on animal reason.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Peregrine uses the microscopic glass to observe the stark contradictions between what people say and what they truly think, revealing the hypocrisy of social interactions.
Love and Obsession
Peregrine's obsessive love for Dörtje persists despite Master Flea's warnings and his attempts to distract him with other women, leading to his emotional turmoil.
Identity and Transformation
George Pepusch is physically squeezed thin by Swammerdam and Leeuwenhoek, then restored to his natural form, highlighting themes of physical and identity transformation.
Characters to notice
- Peregrine Tyss
Devastated by Dörtje's abduction, he follows Master Flea's advice to socialize, uses the microscopic glass to observe hypocrisy, and later flees to a wood to reflect on his adventures.
- Master Flea
Consoles Peregrine, advises him to give up Dörtje and seek society, uses the microscopic glass to reveal thoughts, and defends himself against Peregrine's suspicion of being an evil demon.
- Dörtje Elverdink
Snatched by George Pepusch, later revealed to be in the house with Mr. Swammer, dressing herself and expressing a wish for a tiny negro boy.
- George Pepusch
Snatches Dörtje from Peregrine, later subdued by Swammerdam and Leeuwenhoek, squeezed thin and then restored to his natural form.
- Alina
Reveals to Peregrine that Dörtje is in the house with Mr. Swammer, and recounts the struggle between Swammerdam, Leeuwenhoek, and Pepusch.
- Mr. Swammer
Mentioned as the person with whom Dörtje is staying in the house.
Key passages
“With the speed of lightning—as the reader has already learned at the conclusion of the fourth adventure—George Pepusch snatched the fair one from the arms of the enamoured Peregrine, and left him behind petrified with astonishment and terror.”
George Pepusch swiftly abducted Dörtje from Peregrine's embrace, leaving Peregrine shocked and paralyzed.
Recap of the cliffhanger from the previous chapter.
“You are not yet quite certain, my dear Mr. Peregrine, whether the fair Dörtje Elverdink has really left your house. As well as I can judge of such things, she is not far off; I seem to feel her nearness.”
Master Flea suggests that Dörtje may still be nearby, despite appearances.
Master Flea's attempt to console Peregrine with hope.
“I have the most perfect confidence in you, the thought being, I knew long ago that you were a scoundrel, etc.”
When someone says they have perfect confidence, they often actually think the person is a scoundrel.
Example of the contradictions Peregrine observes with the microscopic glass.
“Ah! the dear little thing! the sweet little puppet! ... Ah! whom should I mean but our princess, below here with Mr. Swammer—your bride, Mr. Tyss?”
Alina reveals that Dörtje is in the house with Mr. Swammer, calling her Peregrine's bride.
Alina's cryptic revelation about Dörtje's whereabouts.
“It is now certain, my dear Mr. Tyss, that the bright star of fortune has arisen, but it is your business to keep it favourable.”
Alina tells Peregrine that his luck has turned, but he must act wisely to maintain it.
Alina's advice regarding Dörtje's condition for marriage.
