Short Fiction · Chapter
How Doctor Heraclius Did Not Agree with the Dauphin, Who, Having Saved a Monkey from Drowning, Threw It Back Again and Went Off to Find a Man to Save Instead explained
Doctor Heraclius, noticing the curious stares of passersby, initially believes his doctrine has gained him admiration.
What happens
Doctor Heraclius, noticing the curious stares of passersby, initially believes his doctrine has gained him admiration. However, he witnesses a group of children tormenting a drowning kitten by throwing stones at it. Enraged, he attacks the children, one of whom falls into the river. Heraclius rescues the kitten, dries and kisses it, then returns home, indifferent to the commotion.
Themes in this chapter
Cruelty and Suffering
The children's stone-throwing and the kitten's agony highlight senseless cruelty.
Obsession and Delusion
Heraclius misinterprets the townspeople's curiosity as admiration for his doctrine.
Characters to notice
- Doctor Heraclius Gloss
Rescues a drowning kitten from cruel children, displaying compassion and rage.
Key passages
“When Heraclius went out the following morning he noticed that everyone looked at him with curiosity as he passed and that people turned to glance twice at him.”
The next morning, Heraclius observed that passersby stared at him with curiosity and even turned to look back.
Heraclius's initial misinterpretation of public attention.
“A few yards away a group of excited children, roaring with laughter, were throwing stones into the water, while some sailors, lounging in the sun and smoking, seemed interested in the game.”
Nearby, a laughing group of children threw stones into the water as sailors watched idly.
The scene of the children's cruel game.
“Livid, trembling with rage, upsetting all before him and striking out with his fists and feet, the Doctor hurled himself among the brats like a wolf into a flock of sheep.”
Pale and shaking with fury, the Doctor charged into the children, knocking them aside and lashing out wildly.
Heraclius's violent reaction to the cruelty.