Short Fiction · Chapter
All Is Well explained
After Watho's death, Photogen and Nycteris marry and travel to the king to tell their story.
What happens
After Watho's death, Photogen and Nycteris marry and travel to the king to tell their story. There, Photogen's mother Aurora is reunited with him, and the king grants them Watho's castle and lands. They live happily, each learning to love the other's world—Nycteris the day and Photogen the night.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Growth and Redemption
Photogen and Nycteris grow through mutual teaching and love, overcoming the darkness of Watho's tyranny.
Reality vs. Illusion
Watho's lies about Photogen's death are exposed, and the true parentage and love between the characters are revealed.
Characters to notice
- Nycteris
Marries Photogen and learns to love the day; she helps him be brave in the dark.
- Colin
Referred to as Photogen; he kills Watho and marries Nycteris, then learns to love the night.
- Watho
Killed by Photogen; her body is devoured by birds and beasts.
- Fargu
Huntsman who offers to bury Watho and advises Photogen to go to the king.
- Aurora
Photogen's mother, reunited with him at court; she reveals Watho's lies.
Key passages
“They left her there, and went back. A great cloud came over the sun, and rain began to fall heavily, and Nycteris was much refreshed, grew able to see a little, and with Photogen’s help walked gently over the cool wet grass.”
Nycteris and Photogen abandoned Watho's body and returned home; rain revived Nycteris, allowing her to see faintly as Photogen guided her across the grass.
Shows Nycteris's growing tolerance for daylight and Photogen's protective care.
“She has got to teach me to be a brave man in the dark, and I have got to look after her until she can bear the heat of the sun, and he helps her to see, instead of blinding her.”
Photogen declares that Nycteris will teach him courage in darkness, while he will protect her until she can endure sunlight without being blinded.
Highlights their mutual dependence and the theme of complementary growth.
“But who knows, Nycteris would say to Photogen, that, when we go out, we shall not go into a day as much greater than your day as your day is greater than my night?”
Nycteris suggests that after death they may enter a realm even more brilliant than Photogen's day, just as his day surpasses her night.
Reflects the story's hopeful, transcendent conclusion.