Short Fiction · Chapter
Dearest explained
Colonel Ashley Hampton faces a commitment hearing orchestrated by his nephew Stephen and Stephen's wife Myra, who aim to have him declared senile.
What happens
Colonel Ashley Hampton faces a commitment hearing orchestrated by his nephew Stephen and Stephen's wife Myra, who aim to have him declared senile. As the psychiatrist Doctor Vehrner prepares to inject him with sodium pentathol, Myra suddenly seizes a .45 automatic, shoots Stephen and Doctor Vehrner, then turns the gun on herself. The chapter reveals Colonel Hampton's secret companionship with an invisible entity he calls 'Dearest,' a presence that brings him warmth and comfort but is dismissed by others as a symptom of dementia.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Memory
Colonel Hampton's sense of self is challenged by accusations of senility, while his memories of a long military career and his connection to 'Dearest' define his inner reality.
Alienation and Otherness
Colonel Hampton feels isolated and surrounded by enemies in his own home; his only true companion is an invisible entity that others dismiss as a hallucination.
Violence and Justice
The chapter culminates in a violent outburst where Myra shoots her husband and the psychiatrist before killing herself, subverting the planned 'justice' of the commitment hearing.
Characters to notice
- Colonel Ashley Hampton
The elderly protagonist facing a commitment plot by his nephew and niece-in-law; he secretly communicates with an invisible entity he calls 'Dearest.'
- Sergeant Williamson
Colonel Hampton's loyal Negro servant who senses the presence of 'Dearest' and associates it with a feeling of blessedness.
- Stephen Silk
Colonel Hampton's nephew, who conspires with his wife Myra to have the Colonel committed; he is shot by Myra during the confrontation.
Key passages
“Dearest Colonel Ashley Hampton chewed his cigar and forced himself to relax, his glance slowly traversing the room, lingering on the mosaic of book-spines in the tall cases, the sunlight splashed on the faded pastel colors of the carpet, the soft-tinted autumn landscape outside the French windows, the trophies of Indian and Filipino and German weapons on the walls.”
Colonel Hampton tries to calm himself by focusing on familiar objects in his library, avoiding the five people he considers enemies.
Establishes the setting and the Colonel's tense state of mind.
“He could easily feign relaxation here in the library of Greyrock, as long as he looked only at these familiar inanimate things and avoided the five people gathered in the room with him, for all of them were enemies.”
The Colonel pretends to be at ease by ignoring the hostile group assembled against him.
Highlights the adversarial nature of the gathering.
“You're here because my loving nephew and his charming wife can't wait to see me buried in the family cemetery; they want to bury me alive in that private Bedlam of yours.”
Colonel Hampton accuses his nephew and wife of trying to have him committed to an asylum.
Reveals the core conflict of the chapter.
“I've been thinking, I ought to have a name for you, too. Do you mind if I call you Popsy?”
The invisible entity suggests calling Colonel Hampton 'Popsy,' a name he finds amusing and proof of her independent existence.
Illustrates the unique bond between the Colonel and 'Dearest.'
“No! You shan't do this to me! You shan't! You're torturing me! you are all devils!”
Myra suddenly screams and grabs a pistol, shooting her husband and the psychiatrist before killing herself.
Climactic moment of violence that ends the commitment hearing.