The Arrow of Gold · Chapter
II explained
The narrator meets Captain Blunt and his mother, Mrs.
What happens
The narrator meets Captain Blunt and his mother, Mrs. Blunt, in a studio in Paris. Mrs. Blunt, an aristocratic American exile, engages the narrator in conversation, revealing her concerns about her son's involvement in the Carlist cause and her own complex personality. The chapter explores themes of aristocracy, exile, and the ambiguities of the Blunt family's social position.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Aristocracy
The Blunts' aristocratic pretensions and exile status are central; Mrs. Blunt emphasizes social position over wealth.
Illusion vs. Reality
The narrator perceives the Blunts as ambiguous, with a polished exterior masking deeper complexities.
Political Intrigue and Idealism
The Carlist cause is discussed as a romantic ideal, with Captain Blunt's involvement and Mrs. Blunt's anxieties.
Characters to notice
- Captain Blunt
Introduced as a polished, aristocratic figure; suffers from sleeplessness and lives by his sword.
- Mrs. Blunt
The narrator's hostess; an aging beauty with a complex past, concerned about her son's future.
- Mills
Mentioned as having spoken to Mrs. Blunt about the narrator; described as having a golden heart.
- Therese
Serves lunch and is present during the conversation.
Key passages
“It’s so unnecessary, this worry! The unfortunate position of an exile has its advantages. At a certain height of social position (wealth has got nothing to do with it, we have been ruined in a most righteous cause), at a certain established height one can disregard narrow prejudices.”
Mrs. Blunt argues that their exile and social standing allow them to ignore conventional prejudices, despite their financial ruin.
Highlights the theme of class and aristocracy.
“She had mastered her irritation and through the glass side of the room sent a wistful smile to his address, but I noticed the yet unextinguished anger in her eyes full of fire under her beautiful white eyebrows. For she was growing old! Oh, yes, she was growing old, and secretly weary, and perhaps desperate.”
Despite her composed exterior, Mrs. Blunt shows signs of inner turmoil and the passage of time.
Reveals the contrast between appearance and reality.