# VII explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The chapter contrasts the princess Rosamond and Agnes, both self-centered but in different ways. The wise woman punishes Agnes by placing her naked inside a hollow sphere where she is confronted with a hideous double of herself, forcing her to recognize her own vanity and self-conceit. After three days of torment, Agnes awakens in the wise woman's arms, ashamed and repentant, and is given instructions to care for the house while the wise woman is away.

## Themes in this chapter

### Vanity and Self-Conceit

Agnes's punishment in the hollow sphere directly targets her self-importance and conceit, as she is forced to see her own ugliness and selfishness mirrored in a hideous double.

### Suffering and Divine Chastening

Agnes's ordeal in the sphere—isolation, confrontation with her own flaws, and eventual shame—serves as a form of chastening to reform her character.

## Character check-ins

### Agnes

Agnes is placed inside a hollow sphere as punishment for her self-conceit. She is confronted by a hideous double of herself, which she eventually recognizes as her own selfishness, leading to shame and a desire for change.

### Rosamond

The princess is mentioned in contrast to Agnes, described as a puppet of her moods, unlike Agnes's calm self-satisfaction.

### The Princess

Referred to as the princess, she is contrasted with Agnes in terms of moodiness and lack of self-awareness.

## Key lines

> Notwithstanding the differences between the two girls, which were, indeed, so many that most people would have said they were not in the least alike, they were the same in this, that each cared more for her own fancies and desires than for anything else in the world.

Despite their many differences, both girls were alike in being completely self-centered.

_Highlights the shared flaw of selfishness in Rosamond and Agnes._

> The moment she hated her, it flashed upon her with a sickening disgust that the child was not another, but her Self, her Somebody, and that she was now shut up with her forever and ever—no more for one moment ever to be alone.

When Agnes felt hatred for the ugly child, she realized with horror that it was her own self, and she would be trapped with it forever.

_Climactic moment of self-recognition and disgust._

## Links

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