Sinister Street · Chapter
XVI: The Last Week explained
Michael returns to his old college rooms for Commemoration, reflecting on the transient nature of student life.
What happens
Michael returns to his old college rooms for Commemoration, reflecting on the transient nature of student life. He reunites with his mother and Stella, and they attend various balls and a picnic. Stella confides in Michael about her love for Alan and her desire to marry him despite financial concerns. Michael grapples with the end of his Oxford days and the intrusion of women into his idealized male academic world.
Themes in this chapter
The Passage of Time and Memory
Michael's return to his old rooms and the remnants of his past (envelope tabs) evoke nostalgia and the ephemeral nature of student life.
Love and Obsession
Stella's love for Alan and her determination to marry him despite financial obstacles, contrasted with Michael's irritation at the social distractions.
Friendship and Betrayal
Michael's support for Alan and Stella's relationship, and his protective stance against any echoes of past family scandals.
Characters to notice
- Michael Fane
Returns to his old rooms, reflects on his past, and navigates the social whirl of Commemoration with his mother and sister.
- Stella Cunningham
Confides in Michael about her love for Alan and her wish to marry him, showing a softer, more vulnerable side.
- Alan Merivale
Accompanies Michael to the station and is the object of Stella's affection; dances with her at Christ Church ball.
- Mrs. Fane
Attends Commemoration with Michael and Stella, enjoys the festivities, and walks with Michael in the Christ Church quadrangles.
- Mr. Lonsdale
Appears at lunch, chats with Mrs. Fane, and discusses his failed Foreign Office exam and plans to sell cars.
- Maurice Avery
Arrives with his mother and sisters, and Michael dances with his sisters at the balls.
Key passages
“Michael found it interesting to deduce from the evidence of his books and pictures the character of the owner with whom he had merely a nodding acquaintance.”
Michael examined the books and pictures in his borrowed room to infer the personality of the freshman who normally lived there.
Reflects Michael's analytical nature and his sense of connection to the room's history.
“The trouble with Alan is that he thinks he can't marry me because I have money, whereas he will be dependent on what he earns. That's rubbish, isn't it?”
Stella confides that Alan hesitates to marry her due to her wealth and his lack of independent income, which she dismisses as nonsense.
Highlights the social and financial barriers to their relationship.
“The great point of Oxford—in fact, the whole point of Oxford—is that there are no girls.”
Michael asserts that Oxford's appeal lies in its absence of women, expressing irritation at their presence during Commemoration.
Reveals Michael's idealization of a male-only academic environment.