# V: The Baptism of the Penguins explained — Penguin Island

> Chapter companion for Penguin Island by Anatole France.

## What happens

Saint Maël, after drifting and exploring a round island, encounters a colony of penguins gathered on rocky tiers. Mistaking them for a grave, simple human tribe, he preaches the Gospel to them. The penguins respond with soft cries, which Maël interprets as adherence to the Christian faith. He then baptizes them over three days and three nights, pouring water on their heads and pronouncing the sacred words.

## Themes in this chapter

### Satire of Religion

Maël's baptism of penguins parodies religious rituals and the misapplication of sacraments based on misinterpretation.

### Human Folly and Vanity

Maël's projection of human traits onto penguins and his self-deception about their understanding highlight human folly.

## Character check-ins

### Saint Maël

The holy man who preaches to and baptizes the penguins, mistaking them for humans.

## Key lines

> calls to voice, as all which breathes in the light of day loves alternate strains, these penguins answered the old man by the sounds of their throats.

The penguins responded to Maël with their natural calls, which he misinterpreted as a sign of their faith.

_Highlights the comedic misunderstanding central to the chapter._

> Baptism, said he to them, is Adoption, New Birth, Regeneration, Illumination.

Maël explains the theological significance of baptism to the penguins.

_Shows the earnest but misplaced religious instruction._

> And thus for three days and three nights he baptized the birds.

Maël spent three days and nights performing baptisms on the penguins.

_Emphasizes the absurd duration and dedication to the mistaken act._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/v-the-baptism-of-the-penguins
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters