The Enormous Room · Chapter
VIII: The Wanderer explained
This chapter focuses on The Wanderer, a gypsy prisoner separated from his family by the French government's moral judgment.
What happens
This chapter focuses on The Wanderer, a gypsy prisoner separated from his family by the French government's moral judgment. Cummings describes his grief, the support from fellow prisoners like Monsieur Pet-airs, and the cruel commission hearing that leads to his transfer to Précigne. The chapter also includes a detailed account of the water-catching routine, highlighting the contempt of local townspeople, and tender scenes of The Wanderer's wife and children, particularly the baby and the girl called Chocolat.
Themes in this chapter
Human Dignity and Community
The Wanderer's family is torn apart by the state, yet prisoners like Monsieur Pet-airs and the putains show solidarity and care, highlighting the resilience of human dignity.
Bureaucratic Absurdity
The French government's 'Three Wise Men' commission inflicts cruel separation based on moral judgments, exemplifying absurd and heartless bureaucracy.
Suffering and Transformation
The Wanderer's profound grief and the loss of 'unspeakable sunlight' from the camp illustrate suffering as a transformative force.
Characters to notice
- The Wanderer
A gypsy prisoner separated from his wife and children; described as having great king's eyes, golden hands, and a shirt of solid vermilion; weeps bitterly at the commission's judgment.
- Monsieur Pet-airs
Aged prisoner who composes letters to authorities protesting the injustice done to The Wanderer; reveals a compassionate and determined spirit.
- Joseph Demestre
The Wanderer's real name; listed in the Gestionnaire's book; described as a gypsy who dresses like Tomorrow, with unspeakably sensitive eyes.
- Celina
A putain who delights in watching The Wanderer's wife bathe the baby; waves to the child.
- B.
Present with Cummings when the girl called Chocolat asks for chocolate; shares in giving her treats.
- Gestionnaire
Mentioned as having a book of judgment listing Joseph Demestre; criticized by Cummings for his role.
Key passages
“I know The Wanderer came from la commission with tears of anger in his great eyes.”
Cummings knows that The Wanderer returned from the commission hearing with tears of anger in his large eyes.
Shows the emotional impact of the commission's decision on The Wanderer.
“He covered his great king’s eyes with his long golden hands and went. With him disappeared unspeakable sunlight, and the dark keen bright strength of the earth.”
He covered his majestic eyes with his long golden hands and left. His departure took away the indescribable sunlight and the vital, earthy strength from the camp.
Poetic description of The Wanderer's departure and the void it leaves.
“I appeal to your sense of mercy and of fair play and of honour. It is not merely an unjust thing which is being done, not merely an unreasonable thing, it is an unnatural thing.”
Monsieur Pet-airs appeals to the authorities' sense of mercy, fairness, and honor, arguing that the separation is not just unjust and unreasonable, but unnatural.
Highlights Monsieur Pet-airs' moral outrage and his letter-writing campaign.