# IV: Photogen explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by George MacDonald.

## What happens

Watho, having desired a splendid boy, takes the newborn son of Aurora and convinces the mother the child died at birth. She raises the boy, named Photogen, in complete isolation from darkness, training him to thrive only in sunlight and to abhor shadows. He grows into a merry, strong, and sun-loving youth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Reality vs. Illusion

Watho creates an artificial reality for Photogen, hiding the existence of darkness and shadows, and deceives Aurora about her son's survival.

### Vanity and Self-Conceit

Watho's desire for a splendid boy and her meticulous control over his upbringing reflect her vanity and self-centered manipulation.

## Character check-ins

### Watho

Watho orchestrates the deception of Aurora and raises Photogen in a sun-drenched environment, deliberately shielding him from darkness and shadows.

### Aurora

Aurora gives birth to a son, but is deceived by Watho into believing he died at birth; she leaves the castle in grief.

### Photogen

The boy born to Aurora, renamed Photogen by Watho; he is raised to love sunlight, avoid darkness, and develops a merry, loving, and occasionally raging temperament.

## Key lines

> Watho at length had her desire, for witches often get what they want: a splendid boy was born to the fair Aurora.

Watho finally got what she wanted, as witches frequently do: a beautiful baby boy was born to the lovely Aurora.

_Introduces Watho's successful scheme and the birth of Photogen._

> Persistently she trained him until at last he never slept during the day, and never woke during the night.

She trained him so persistently that eventually he never slept in the daytime and never woke at night.

_Describes Watho's conditioning of Photogen to avoid darkness entirely._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/iv-photogen
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters