Short Fiction · Chapter
The Hand explained
Examining magistrate Monsieur Bermutier recounts a mysterious case from his time in Corsica involving an Englishman, Sir John Rowell, who lived in seclusion and kept a flayed, chained hand in his home.
What happens
Examining magistrate Monsieur Bermutier recounts a mysterious case from his time in Corsica involving an Englishman, Sir John Rowell, who lived in seclusion and kept a flayed, chained hand in his home. After a year, Rowell is found murdered, strangled with marks resembling a skeleton's grip, and the hand disappears. The crime remains unsolved, with Bermutier suggesting a vendetta by the hand's original owner.
Themes in this chapter
Obsession and Delusion
Sir John Rowell's fixation on the flayed hand, his nightly agitation, and the servant's report of him beating the hand suggest a delusional obsession.
Cruelty and Suffering
The hand itself, a relic of violence and torture, and the brutal murder of Rowell highlight themes of cruelty and physical suffering.
Isolation and Loneliness
Rowell lives alone in a secluded villa, shunning society, and his only companion is the macabre hand, underscoring his isolation.
Characters to notice
- Doctor Heraclius Gloss
Monsieur Bermutier, the examining magistrate, is the narrator of the story, though not explicitly named in the provided text; the canonical ID is used as a placeholder for the magistrate figure.
- Guy de Maupassant
The author is implicitly present as the storyteller, but the narrative is framed through the magistrate's voice.
Key passages
“A circle had been formed round Monsieur Bermutier, examining magistrate, who was giving his opinion on the mysterious Saint Cloud affair.”
People gathered around the magistrate as he discussed the unsolved Saint Cloud crime.
Sets the scene for the storytelling frame.
“It was always trying to get away. The chain is necessary.”
The Englishman claimed the hand constantly attempted to escape, requiring the chain.
Highlights the eerie and obsessive nature of the hand.
“It's just as if he had been strangled by a skeleton.”
The doctor noted the strangulation marks resembled those made by a skeleton's fingers.
Key clue linking the murder to the flayed hand.