The Blue Castle · Chapter
XVII explained
Valancy has lived at Roaring Abel's for a week and feels completely separated from her old life.
What happens
Valancy has lived at Roaring Abel's for a week and feels completely separated from her old life. She finds happiness in her new freedom, caring for Cissy, cleaning the house, and enjoying the natural beauty around her. Cissy is dying but finds comfort in Valancy's presence. Valancy shares her secret 'Blue Castle' with Cissy, who understands.
Themes in this chapter
Self-Liberation and Rebellion
Valancy feels years removed from her old life, enjoying freedom from family constraints and the ability to live on her own terms.
Nature and Beauty
Valancy finds solace in the northern twilights, barrens, and wood-flowers, quoting John Foster's philosophy of leaving flowers untouched.
Mortality and Carpe Diem
Cissy's impending death and Valancy's own heart condition underscore the preciousness of time and the choice to live fully.
Characters to notice
- Valancy Stirling
Valancy feels liberated from her old life, enjoys her new freedom, cleans the house, and cares for Cissy. She shares her 'Blue Castle' secret with Cissy.
- Cecily Gay
Cissy is dying but finds happiness in Valancy's company. She clings to Valancy like a child and shares her own lost 'Blue Castle'.
- Roaring Abel Gay
Abel is often away, comes home late and drunk, but is good-natured. He appreciates Valancy's cooking and her boldness in speaking back to him.
- Barney Snaith
Mentioned as Abel's companion for shooting and fishing; Valancy knows he is not the one who destroyed Cissy's Blue Castle.
Key passages
“It is a pity to gather wood-flowers. They lose half their witchery away from the green and the flicker. The way to enjoy wood-flowers is to track them down to their remote haunts—gloat over them—and then leave them with backward glances, taking with us only the beguiling memory of their grace and fragrance.”
Wood-flowers should be admired in their natural setting, not picked, because their magic fades when removed.
Valancy reads this John Foster passage to Cissy, reflecting her appreciation for nature's untouched beauty.
“What is the use of getting in a rage?”
Why bother getting angry?
Valancy asks Abel this question, and he replies that it's a relief, showing their candid relationship.
“Everyone has a Blue Castle, I think. Only everyone has a different name for it.”
Everyone has a private dream or ideal world, though they may call it something else.
Cissy responds to Valancy's confession about her Blue Castle, revealing her own lost dream.