Sylvie and Bruno · Chapter
VI: The Magic Locket explained
Sylvie and Bruno travel with their father to Elfland via the Royal Road, where Sylvie is offered a choice between two magical lockets: one inscribed 'All will love Sylvie' and the other 'Sylvie will love all.' She chooses the red locket, sy
What happens
Sylvie and Bruno travel with their father to Elfland via the Royal Road, where Sylvie is offered a choice between two magical lockets: one inscribed 'All will love Sylvie' and the other 'Sylvie will love all.' She chooses the red locket, symbolizing her preference for loving others over being loved. Meanwhile, in the human world, the Vice-Warden and his Lady plot to hide Sylvie and Bruno from the Ambassador Baron Doppelgeist, who has come to offer the Kingship of Elfland to the Vice-Warden, intending to pass off their son Uggug as the heir. The chapter ends with the Narrator arriving at Elveston Station and reuniting with Arthur Forester, who confesses his love for Lady Muriel Orme.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Selflessness
Sylvie's choice of the red locket ('Sylvie will love all') over the blue one ('All will love Sylvie') emphasizes the theme of selfless love.
Reality vs. Fantasy
The Phlizz fruit, which has no taste to Bruno but is real to the King, illustrates the blurred boundary between perception and reality in Elfland.
Family and Parental Relationships
The tender interaction between the Fairy-King and his children contrasts with the Vice-Warden's manipulative parenting of Uggug.
Characters to notice
- Sylvie
Chooses the red locket inscribed 'Sylvie will love all,' demonstrating her selfless nature.
- Bruno
Tastes the Phlizz fruit and finds it flavorless; spells out the inscriptions on the lockets.
- Narrator
Observes the events in Elfland and later arrives at Elveston Station, reuniting with Arthur.
- Arthur Forester
Confesses his love for Lady Muriel Orme to the Narrator.
- Lady Muriel Orme
Travels with the Narrator to Elveston; Arthur reveals his feelings for her.
- Sub-Warden
Plots with his Lady to hide Sylvie and Bruno from the Ambassador to pass Uggug off as the heir.
Key passages
“It’s very nice to be loved,” she said: “but it’s nicer to love other people! May I have the red one, Father?”
Sylvie expresses that while being loved is pleasant, loving others brings greater joy, and she chooses the red locket accordingly.
Highlights Sylvie's selfless character and the chapter's central moral choice.
“Our only chance is to keep those two brats out of sight. If you can manage that, you may leave the rest to me.”
The Vice-Warden insists that hiding Sylvie and Bruno is essential for their plan to present Uggug as the heir to Elfland.
Reveals the Vice-Warden's deceitful scheme and the threat to Sylvie and Bruno.