Short Fiction · Chapter
The Truth About Pyecraft explained
The narrator, a club member, reveals the embarrassing secret of Pyecraft, an extremely obese man who, after taking a prescription from the narrator's Hindu great-grandmother to lose weight, becomes so light that he floats helplessly against
What happens
The narrator, a club member, reveals the embarrassing secret of Pyecraft, an extremely obese man who, after taking a prescription from the narrator's Hindu great-grandmother to lose weight, becomes so light that he floats helplessly against the ceiling. The narrator recounts their acquaintance, Pyecraft's obsession with his weight, and the absurd consequences of the remedy, culminating in Pyecraft's desperate attempts to stay grounded and his pleas for secrecy.
Themes in this chapter
Artifice vs. Authenticity
Pyecraft's obsession with appearing normal and his use of a secret remedy highlight the tension between his true condition and the social facade he maintains.
Ambition and Failure
Pyecraft's quest to lose weight through an exotic prescription backfires spectacularly, leading to a humiliating and uncontrollable state.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Pyecraft
The extremely obese clubman who takes a weight-loss remedy and becomes weightless, floating to the ceiling.
- Mr. Clarence
The narrator, a club member who helps Pyecraft and is burdened by his secret.
Key passages
“He sits not a dozen yards away. If I glance over my shoulder I can see him. And if I catch his eye—and usually I catch his eye—it meets me with an expression— It is mainly an imploring look—and yet with suspicion in it.”
Pyecraft is nearby, constantly watching the narrator with a pleading yet suspicious gaze.
The narrator feels trapped by Pyecraft's persistent, imploring attention.
“I took a little sip first. And as I felt lighter and better after an hour, I decided to take the draught.”
Pyecraft describes testing the remedy cautiously before consuming the full dose.
The gradual effect of the prescription leads to his complete loss of weight.
“What the goodness am I to do ? he said. There's one thing pretty evident, I said, that you mustn't do. If you go out of doors you'll go up and up.”
Pyecraft panics about his condition, and the narrator warns him that going outside would cause him to float away.
The absurdity of Pyecraft's situation is underscored by the literal danger of his lightness.