# IV explained — The Crock of Gold

> Chapter companion for The Crock of Gold by James Stephens.

## What happens

The Leprecauns of Gort na Cloca Mora are furious at the Philosopher for sending Meehawl MacMurrachu to their field, leading to the theft of their gold. They send a Leprecaun to complain to the Thin Woman, who disclaims responsibility. When the Philosopher returns, he engages in a rambling philosophical discourse about sleep, ignoring the Thin Woman's warnings about the Leprecauns' anger.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice as Readjustment

The Leprecauns seek justice for the theft of their gold, but their vengeance is complicated by fairy laws and the Thin Woman's disavowal of responsibility.

### The Folly of Reason

The Philosopher's lengthy, abstract discourse on sleep ignores the practical threat from the Leprecauns, highlighting the folly of excessive rationalism.

## Character check-ins

### Leprecauns of Gort na Cloca Mora

The Leprecauns are angry about the theft of their gold and send a representative to the Thin Woman.

### Meehawl MacMurrachu

Meehawl is afflicted with rheumatism by the Leprecauns after burying the gold under a thorn bush.

### Thin Woman of Inis Magrath

The Thin Woman receives the Leprecaun's complaint but denies responsibility, later confronting the Philosopher.

### Seumas Beg

Seumas and Brigid weep in sympathy for the weeping Leprecaun.

### Brigid Beg

Brigid weeps in sympathy for the weeping Leprecaun.

### Leprecaun

A single Leprecaun is sent to interview the Thin Woman and weeps as he tells his story.

## Key lines

> A Leprecaun without a pot of gold is like a rose without perfume, a bird without a wing, or an inside without an outside.

A leprecaun without his gold is incomplete and diminished.

_This simile emphasizes the essential nature of the gold to the leprecaun's identity._

> Finality is death. Perfection is finality. Nothing is perfect. There are lumps in it.

Completion leads to death, and nothing is ever truly perfect, so the stirabout has lumps.

_The Philosopher's concluding aphorism dismisses the Thin Woman's curse and accepts imperfection._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters