# XXVIII: “This Story Will Show You That, if You Want to Save a Fellow Creature from Blows and Believe That It Is Better to Rescue a Cat Than a Man, You Will Excite the Anger of Your Neighbours. All Roads Lead to Rome—But Metempsychosis Leads to the Lunatic Asylum.”—Balançon Star explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant. ## What happens Doctor Heraclius Gloss is arrested and committed to a mental asylum after a mob, incited by local priests, attacks his home. In the asylum, he meets Dagobert Félorme, who also claims to be the reincarnation of Pythagoras and the author of the same manuscript. A violent confrontation over the manuscript ends with it being torn in two. After a month of reflection and guidance from the asylum staff, Heraclius renounces metempsychosis and is released. ## Themes in this chapter ### Obsession and Delusion Heraclius and Félorme both believe they are the reincarnation of Pythagoras and the sole author of the manuscript, leading to a violent rivalry. ### Illusion vs. Reality Heraclius's conviction that he is the author of the manuscript and a reincarnated philosopher is shattered by the encounter with Félorme, forcing him to confront the truth. ### Isolation and Loneliness Heraclius is isolated in his cell and later in the asylum garden, where he finds a kindred spirit only to become jealous and hostile. ### Cruelty and Suffering Heraclius endures physical and psychological suffering: mob violence, arrest, cold baths, and confinement in a mental institution. ## Character check-ins ### Doctor Heraclius Gloss Arrested and committed to an asylum after a mob attack; struggles with his belief in metempsychosis and confronts a rival claimant. ### Guy de Maupassant Narrator of the story. ## Key lines > Two hours later a huge crowd of shouting people was jostling and pushing in front of the Doctor’s windows. Soon a shower of stones shattered the panes and the crowd was about to rush the doors when the police appeared at the end of the street. A mob gathers outside the Doctor's home, throws stones at his windows, and nearly breaks in before police arrive. _The crowd's attack is incited by local priests, reflecting religious opposition to Heraclius's teachings._ > The Doctor suddenly realized the terrible trap into which he had fallen and the devilish cunning of his enemies. Summoning all his strength he tried to hurl himself into the road, but two strong hands forced him back into his seat. Heraclius realizes he is being taken to a mental asylum and desperately tries to escape from the carriage. _Heraclius believes his enemies have conspired to have him committed._ > For some minutes he considered the situation and then he began to read his manuscript, which he had taken care not to leave behind. After waking from a long sleep, Heraclius reads his manuscript to assess his situation. _The manuscript remains central to his identity and delusion._ > The Doctor learnt that his companion was called Dagobert Félorme, and that he was Professor of modern languages at the college of Balançon. Heraclius meets a fellow inmate named Dagobert Félorme, a language professor. _Félorme becomes Heraclius's rival in the belief of metempsychosis._ > Suddenly his companion exclaimed: “Metempsychosis⁠—It is I. It was I who discovered the evolution of souls and who welded the destinies of men. I was Pythagoras.” Félorme claims to be Pythagoras and the discoverer of metempsychosis. _This triggers a conflict over authorship and identity._ > The Doctor stopped dead, pale as a sheet. “Excuse me,” he said, “I am Pythagoras.” Heraclius counters that he himself is Pythagoras. _Both men believe they are the same historical figure._ > For some seconds they pulled hard and angrily in opposite directions, and then, as neither would give way, the manuscript, which might be described as forming a living hyphen between them, acted as wisely as the late King Solomon might have done, by separating into two equal parts The two men tear the manuscript in half during a struggle over its ownership. _The manuscript is destroyed, symbolizing the collapse of their shared delusion._ > Like a man who would burn his house down rather than see it occupied by someone else, he was prepared to burn both temple and god, to burn metempsychosis itself even, as soon as a stranger ascended the altar to which he had exalted himself. Heraclius would rather destroy metempsychosis than let another claim it. _His jealousy and pride override his faith in the doctrine._ > At last, one beautiful sunny morning, the Doctor came to himself. Once more he was the Heraclius of the good old days. Warmly clasping the hands of his two friends he told them that he had renounced forever metempsychosis, expiations in animal form and transmigrations. Heraclius recovers his sanity and renounces his belief in metempsychosis. _He is released from the asylum after a month of reflection._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/xxviii-this-story-will-show-you-that-if-you-want-to-save-a-fellow-creature-from-blows-and-believe-that-it-is-better-to-rescue-a-cat-than-a-man-you-will-excite-the-anger-of-your-neighbours-all-roads-lead-to-rome-but-metempsychosis-leads-to-the-lunatic-asylum-balan-on-star - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters