# XII explained — Now It Can Be Told

> Chapter companion for Now It Can Be Told by Philip Gibbs.

## What happens

The narrator visits battalion headquarters near Kemmel and witnesses the aftermath of a death sentence for cowardice. An officer coldly condemns a soldier who admitted to leaving his post due to shell-shock. Later, the narrator sees the condemned man being led away, manacled and tied to a mounted guard, with a look of doom on his face.

## Themes in this chapter

### Psychological Trauma

The condemned soldier's admission that he 'couldn't stand shells' highlights the psychological toll of war, yet it is met with a death sentence rather than understanding.

### Betrayal by Leadership

The officer's cold dismissal of the soldier's fear and the grim execution reflect a leadership that prioritizes discipline over compassion.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator observes the court-martial proceedings and the condemned man's final march.

### The Officer

Presides over the court-martial, sentences a soldier to death for cowardice, and shows grim humor and irritation at German shelling.

### The Boy

The condemned soldier, described as a 'damned coward' who could not endure shell-fire, is led away manacled.

## Key lines

> Tomorrow there will be one swine less in the world.

The officer dismissively refers to the condemned soldier as a 'swine' and anticipates his execution.

_Reveals the dehumanization of soldiers who are seen as cowards by their commanders._

> He was manacled, and tied by a rope to the mounted man. I caught one glimpse of his face, and then turned away, cold and sick. There was doom written on his face, and in his eyes a captured look.

The narrator sees the condemned soldier being led away in chains, his expression showing hopelessness and despair.

_Emphasizes the grim reality of military punishment and the emotional impact on the observer._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters