# XIX explained — The Duel > Chapter companion for The Duel by Aleksandr Kuprin. ## What happens After a wild scene, the officers return to the mess-room in a state of nervous irritability, engaging in reckless behavior and a blasphemous parody of a church mass. Romashov, disturbed by the atmosphere, visits the 'mortuary' where he encounters two disreputable officers, Klodt and Solotuchin, engaged in a mysterious drinking ritual. He later returns to the mess, where a confrontation with Nikoläiev escalates into a violent brawl. The fight is broken up, and the officers are ordered to leave. Romashov, feeling degraded and disgusted, walks home in the dawn, overwhelmed by shame and self-loathing. ## Themes in this chapter ### Hypocrisy and Corruption The officers engage in debauchery and violence, yet they are supposed to uphold honor and discipline. The 'mortuary' room, where suicides have occurred, symbolizes the corruption and moral decay of the regiment. ### Futility of Violence The brawl between Romashov and Nikoläiev is brutal and pointless, leaving both men degraded. Romashov's subsequent shame and the peaceful dawn underscore the emptiness of the violence. ### Alienation and Loneliness Romashov feels isolated and disgusted by his surroundings, and his walk home in the dawn highlights his profound alienation from both his fellow officers and the natural world. ## Character check-ins ### Sublieutenant Romashov Romashov is caught in the chaotic aftermath of the wild scene, wandering the mess in distress, confronting Nikoläiev, and ultimately engaging in a violent brawl. He feels deep shame and self-disgust as he walks home at dawn. ### Lieutenant Nikoläiev Nikoläiev is present in the mess, intoxicated and hostile toward Romashov. He insults Romashov and initiates a physical fight, ending with both men rolling on the floor. ### Lieutenant Biek-Agamalov Biek-Agamalov rides beside Romashov during the return, remaining angry and silent. He later helps separate the combatants and hands Romashov a glass of water. ### Captain Osadchi Osadchi is a central figure in the drunken revelry, bellowing for songs and leading the blasphemous parody of the Mass. He also scolds Staff-Captain Lieschtschenko for singing poorly. ### Lieutenant Viätkin Viätkin conducts the drunken singing, standing on a table and parodying church liturgy. He later sings a plaintive melody that evokes remorse among the officers. ### Lieutenant-Colonel Liech Old Liech, initially asleep, wakes up sober and severe, ordering all officers to leave the mess and report to the regimental commander. ### Captain Klodt Klodt, an alcoholist and thief expelled from his company, is found in the 'mortuary' with Solotuchin, engaged in a mysterious drinking ritual. ### Solotuchin Solotuchin, a worn-out rake and gambler, is in the 'mortuary' with Klodt, drinking and whispering mysteriously. He tries to force Romashov to join them. ## Key lines > A poor Jew coming along was stopped and deprived of his cap. Olisár got up in the carriage, and insulted, in the outskirts of the town, in the middle of the street, all passersby in a manner which cannot be decently described. The officers, in their drunken arrogance, harassed a Jewish man by taking his cap, and Olisár stood up in the carriage to shout obscene insults at everyone they passed. _This illustrates the officers' reckless and bigoted behavior after the earlier scene._ > Viätkin imitated in quick succession and in the same tone the strophes recited in the remainder of the antiphon at Mass⁠— 'Sexton, parson, and his clerk Thought the smacking quite a lark. Then the beadle said, “By hell, Nikifor, you smack right well.” ' Viätkin continued his parody of the church service with a vulgar rhyme about a sexton, parson, and beadle enjoying a beating. _This shows the officers' blasphemous mockery of religious rituals._ > It was almost officially designated as 'the mortuary,' which name, by a dreadful irony of fate, received its full justification from the fact that no less than two officers and one soldier had committed suicide in it during the few years the regiment had been garrisoned in the town. The room was called 'the mortuary,' and tragically, two officers and a soldier had killed themselves there since the regiment arrived. _This highlights the grim reality of suicide among the officers._ > And when Romashov, on his way home, glanced at them, at the sky, and at the grass faintly sparkling like silver in the dew, he felt himself so low, vile, degenerate, and disgusting that he realized, with unutterable melancholy, how unworthy he was to be greeted by the innocent, smiling child-eyes of awakening Nature. Walking home at dawn, Romashov looked at the trees, sky, and dew-covered grass and felt deeply ashamed and worthless, believing he did not deserve the beauty of the new day. _This conveys Romashov's profound self-loathing and alienation from nature._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_duel_2_se/chapters/xix - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_duel_2_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_duel_2_se/chapters