# XXI: The Garland of Flowers explained — The Blue Lagoon

> Chapter companion for The Blue Lagoon by H. de Vere Stacpoole.

## What happens

Dick and Emmeline discover the body of Paddy Button on the reef, a moment of playful prank turning into a horrifying confrontation with death. Emmeline's wreath of flowers becomes a garish crown on the corpse, and Dick's instinct is to flee in terror, dragging the unconscious Emmeline away.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Mortality

The sudden, grotesque discovery of Paddy's corpse forces Dick and Emmeline to confront death directly, shattering their innocence.

### Innocence and Loss

The children's playful intent with the wreath is violently overturned by the reality of death, marking a loss of childhood naivety.

### The Sublime and Terrible Nature

The beautiful reef and ocean setting contrast starkly with the horror of the decaying body, highlighting nature's indifference.

## Character check-ins

### Dick

Discovers Paddy's body, initially planning a prank, then flees in horror with Emmeline.

### Emmeline

Makes a flower wreath for the prank, screams and loses consciousness upon seeing the corpse.

### Paddy Button

Found dead on the reef, his face partially destroyed by rock larvae, a crab emerging from his mouth.

## Key lines

> He held her to him as he stared at the terrible figure lying upon its back, hands outspread. Then, wild with terror, he dragged her towards the little boat.

Dick clutched Emmeline while gazing at the horrifying corpse, then, overcome by panic, pulled her to the boat.

_Dick's instinctive flight from the horror of Paddy's body._

> Emmeline screamed, and screamed, and would have fallen, but the boy caught her in his arms—one side of the face had been destroyed by the larvae of the rocks.

Emmeline screamed repeatedly and nearly collapsed, but Dick caught her; part of Paddy's face had been eaten away by rock larvae.

_The gruesome detail of Paddy's decomposition and Emmeline's reaction._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_lagoon_se/chapters/part-iii-xxi-the-garland-of-flowers
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_lagoon_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_blue_lagoon_se/chapters