The Charwoman’s Shadow · Chapter
XXIII: The Plan of Ramon Alonzo explained
Ramon Alonzo, desperate to reclaim his shadow, attempts to open the magician's shadow-box but fails.
What happens
Ramon Alonzo, desperate to reclaim his shadow, attempts to open the magician's shadow-box but fails. He recalls the charwoman's mention of 'Tong or Tang' and devises a plan to systematically test spell syllables. He feigns study of Persian magic while secretly working on the box at night. After repeating thousands of spells, he discovers that the padlock quivers at the syllable 'Yung' but does not open. He continues his vigil, determined to find the correct incantation.
Themes in this chapter
Sacrifice and the Price of Ambition
Ramon risks his soul's salvation and endures sleepless nights to reclaim his shadow, showing the cost of his ambition.
Shadow as Identity and Social Standing
Ramon's shadowlessness marks him as an outcast, and his desperate efforts to regain it highlight its link to his identity.
Time, Mortality, and the Burden of Immortality
Ramon's fear that time has stopped and his contemplation of eternity versus doom reflect the weight of time and mortality.
Characters to notice
- Ramon Alonzo
Desperate and shadowless, he devises a plan to open the shadow-box by testing spell syllables, feigning study of Persian magic.
- The Charwoman
Attempts to comfort Ramon but fails; her remark about 'Tong or Tang' inspires his plan.
- The Master
The magician who teaches Persian lore, unaware of Ramon's secret plan; he leaves the shadow-box unguarded at night.
Key passages
“He found his sword was still gripped in his hand and, looking at it, even in that dim light, he saw that its glitter was gone and all the steel gone grey from its meeting with magic.”
Ramon noticed his sword had lost its shine and turned dull after clashing with magic.
Illustrates the draining effect of magic on physical objects.
“The gap between lid and box was narrower than the gap between one granite slab and the next in the temple beside the Sphinx, narrower than the line between night and day; the delicate point of the rapier looked gross beside it.”
The crack between the box and its lid was impossibly thin, making the sword's tip seem huge in comparison.
Emphasizes the impossibility of opening the box by force.
“He said thousands of spells that night, and for none had the padlock moved; and now it had quivered, but it did not open.”
After reciting countless spells with no result, the padlock finally vibrated but stayed locked.
Shows the first sign of progress in Ramon's arduous task.