# Chapter IV explained — Some Do Not …

> Chapter companion for Some Do Not … by Ford Madox Ford.

## What happens

Tietjens spends the evening with Mr. Waterhouse, who sends friendly messages to Miss Wannop and refuses to believe Tietjens didn't arrange the suffragette raid. Later, Tietjens struggles with agitation over his marriage to Sylvia, using patience cards to calm his mind. Macmaster's sudden entrance shocks him physically. The next day, Tietjens deals with Sandbach's accusations and General Campion's comments, reflecting on social betrayals, his child's welfare, and the hypocrisy of society. He and Waterhouse discuss politics and agree on High Tory and Radical ideals.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor and Reputation

Tietjens chooses to let himself be seen as a 'rip' rather than have Sylvia's reputation as a 'strumpet' exposed, prioritizing his son's welfare over his own honor.

### Self-Deception and Perception

Tietjens suppresses his thoughts about his marriage using patience cards, and his unconscious mind takes over, paralyzing him. He also reflects on how society misperceives military and historical facts.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Sandbach betrays the solidarity between men by spreading accusations, and Tietjens reflects on the betrayal of trust in society and marriage.

### Gender Roles and Sexuality

The chapter discusses female suffrage, Mr. Waterhouse's admiration for Miss Wannop, and Tietjens' views on childless women with unfaithful husbands, highlighting gender dynamics and sexual politics.

## Character check-ins

### Christopher Tietjens

Agitated about his marriage to Sylvia, uses patience cards to suppress thoughts, suffers physical shock from Macmaster's entrance, defends himself against Sandbach's accusations, and discusses politics with Mr. Waterhouse.

### Vincent Macmaster

Enters Tietjens' room suddenly, causing Tietjens a severe physical shock, and tries to loosen his clothes.

### Mr. Waterhouse

Spends the evening with Tietjens, sends messages to Miss Wannop, arranges to stop police pursuit of the suffragettes, and discusses politics and his Labour Finance Act with Tietjens.

### Valentine Wannop

Mentioned as the recipient of Mr. Waterhouse's kind messages and as the suspected organizer of the suffragette raid.

### General Lord Edward Campion

Discusses Sandbach's accusations against Tietjens, defends Sandbach as a husband, and argues with Tietjens about military technology and Henry VIII's castles.

### Mr. Sandbach

Infuriated with Tietjens, spreads accusations about him, and is described as a 'dirty little beggar' by Tietjens.

### Lady Claudine Sandbach

Mentioned as a childless woman with an unfaithful husband who believes in the unfaithfulness of other women, and who uses influence to get Sandbach a diplomatic job in Turkey.

### Sylvia Tietjens

Referenced in Tietjens' thoughts about his marriage, his desire to stop scandal, and his preference to be seen as the rip rather than have her seen as a strumpet for the sake of their child.

## Key lines

> He had, he knew, carried the suppression of thought in his conscious mind so far that his unconscious self had taken command and had, for the time, paralysed both his body and mind.

Tietjens realized that his deliberate effort to avoid thinking had caused his subconscious to take over, temporarily immobilizing him.

_Illustrates Tietjens' psychological struggle and the theme of self-deception._

> It was better for a boy to have a rip of a father than a whore for mother!

Tietjens believed it was preferable for his son to think of him as a womanizer rather than to know his mother was unfaithful.

_Highlights Tietjens' protective instincts and the theme of honor and reputation._

> You look at a dozen men, each of them not by any means detestable and not uninteresting: for each of them would have technical details of their affairs to impart: you formed them into a Government or a club and at once, with oppressions, inaccuracies, gossip, backbiting, lying, corruptions and vileness, you had the combination of wolf, tiger, weasel and louse-covered ape that was human society.

Tietjens observed that while individual men are often agreeable, when grouped into institutions like governments or clubs, they become corrupt and vile.

_Reflects Tietjens' cynical view of human society and the theme of social hypocrisy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters/part-i-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/some_do_not_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/some_do_not_se/chapters