Mr. Standfast · Chapter
St. Anton explained
Hannay, disguised as the Swiss porter Joseph Zimmer, arrives in St.
What happens
Hannay, disguised as the Swiss porter Joseph Zimmer, arrives in St. Anton to serve as a servant for the injured Peter Pienaar. He reflects on his journey and his deepening friendship with Wake, while also observing Peter's stoic endurance and his own longing for Mary. The chapter explores themes of fortitude, comradeship, and the pain of loss.
Themes in this chapter
Fortitude and Endurance
Peter Pienaar's stoic acceptance of his lameness and his refusal to complain exemplify this theme.
Comradeship and Loyalty
Hannay's deep bond with Peter and his reconciliation with Wake highlight the theme of male friendship and loyalty.
Sacrifice and Loss
Peter's loss of his physical fitness and his longing for the past underscore the sacrifices made in war.
Characters to notice
- Richard Hannay
Disguised as the porter Joseph Zimmer, Hannay arrives in St. Anton to care for Peter Pienaar.
- Peter Pienaar
Injured and lame, Peter is staying in St. Anton, showing remarkable stoicism and fortitude despite his suffering.
- Launcelot Wake
Hannay meets Wake in Dijon, where they reconcile and Wake reveals his inner turmoil and self-analysis.
- Mary Lamington
Mentioned in Hannay's thoughts and in his conversation with Peter; she is the object of Hannay's love.
- John S. Blenkiron
Mentioned as having arranged for Peter to be sent to St. Anton and having advised him to play the role of a disgruntled Boer.
Key passages
“He liked to hobble out-of-doors after the darkness came and look at his old friends, the stars. He called them by the words they use on the veld, and the first star of morning he called the voorlooper — the little boy who inspans the oxen — a name I had not heard for twenty years.”
Peter enjoyed going outside at night to gaze at the stars, using the Afrikaans names he remembered from his life in South Africa, like calling the morning star 'voorlooper.'
Shows Peter's nostalgia for his past life and his connection to the natural world.
“That was the ritual he had set himself, his point of honour, and he faced the future with the same kind of courage as that with which he had tackled a wild beast or Lensch himself. Only it needed a far bigger brand of fortitude.”
Peter's refusal to complain about his injuries was a personal code of honor, requiring even more courage than his past feats of bravery.
Highlights the theme of fortitude and endurance.
“I could see that he ached with longing for their return. And yet he never had a word of complaint.”
Peter deeply missed his days as an airman, but he never voiced any bitterness about his condition.
Emphasizes Peter's stoicism and the theme of sacrifice.