School Stories · Chapter
Author! explained
J.
What happens
J. S. M. Babington, a student at St. Austin's, faces a dilemma between duty and pleasure after being caught in a classroom prank by a temporary master, Mr. Seymour. Later, at a tea party, Babington discovers that Mr. Seymour is the author of a play he just attended. After a series of awkward denials, Mr. Seymour reveals he is no longer a master, letting Babington off the hook.
Themes in this chapter
Work vs. Pleasure
Babington's dilemma between attending a play (pleasure) and facing the imposition (duty) illustrates the conflict between work and pleasure.
Authority and Rebellion
Babington's prank and subsequent lies to Mr. Seymour reflect the tension between student rebellion and authority.
Trickery and Cunning
Babington's attempts to deceive Mr. Seymour about his identity and school demonstrate trickery and cunning.
Characters to notice
- J. S. M. Babington
The protagonist who struggles with the consequences of his prank and later encounters Mr. Seymour socially.
- Mr. Reginald Seymour
The temporary master who catches Babington's prank and later reveals himself as the author of the play.
- Richards
A friend of Babington's cousin who introduces Babington to Mr. Seymour.
Key passages
“J. S. M. Babington, of Dacre’s House, was on the horns of a dilemma. Circumstances over which he had had no control had brought him, like another Hercules, to the crossroads, and had put before him the choice between pleasure and duty, or, rather, between pleasure and what those in authority called duty.”
Babington faced a difficult choice between doing what he wanted and doing what was expected of him.
Introduces the central conflict of the chapter.
“Mr. Seymour looked thoughtfully for a moment at the blackboard. 'That was rather a crude effort,' he said pleasantly to Babington, 'you lack finesse. Pick it up again, please.'”
Mr. Seymour calmly criticized Babington's prank and told him to fix the blackboard.
Shows Mr. Seymour's composed and authoritative response to the prank.
“Fortunately for Babington, and unfortunately for the cause of morality, I am not a master. I was only a stopgap, and my term of office ceased today at one o'clock. Thus the prisoner at the bar gets off on a technical point of law, and I trust it will be a lesson to him.”
Mr. Seymour revealed he was no longer a master, so Babington escaped punishment on a technicality.
Climax where Babington is let off due to Mr. Seymour's temporary role.