The History of Mr. Polly · Chapter
XI explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Polly's idyllic three months at the Potwell Inn are overshadowed by the looming threat of Uncle Jim. As the respite ends, Mr. Polly buys a rook rifle for protection. On a night in October, a literary man named Warspite discovers Mr. Polly hiding in a ditch near the churchyard, claiming Uncle Jim has shot at him. They find the damaged rifle near a monument and proceed to the Potwell Inn, which has been ransacked. The landlady is locked upstairs with her grandchild. Mr. Polly's room is in disarray, his clothes gone, and signs of a struggle evident. The policeman Blake resolves to find Uncle Jim.
Themes in this chapter
Discontent and Escape
Mr. Polly's three months of idyllic escape at the Potwell Inn are marred by the persistent threat of Uncle Jim, forcing him to confront the consequences of his flight from his former life.
Heroism and Self-Discovery
Mr. Polly's actions during the confrontation—buying a rifle, hiding, and eventually leading the search—show a reluctant, bumbling heroism as he faces Uncle Jim to protect the landlady and himself.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Polly
Spends three happy months at the Potwell Inn, but anxiety over Uncle Jim grows; buys a rook rifle; is discovered hiding in a ditch by Warspite; leads the way back to the inn and shows his ransacked room.
- Uncle Jim
The looming threat; his name is 'written in letters of glaring silence' between Mr. Polly and the landlady; he allegedly shoots at Mr. Polly, ransacks the bar and Mr. Polly's room, and steals clothes and whisky.
- The Young Lady
Referred to as the landlady of the Potwell Inn; she locks herself upstairs with her grandchild during the attack and refuses to come down until assured Uncle Jim and the gun are gone.
- Warspite
A literary man suffering from insomnia who discovers Mr. Polly in the ditch; he assists in investigating the scene and accompanies Mr. Polly and Blake to the inn.
- Blake
The village policeman who arrives at the Potwell Inn; he examines the damage and resolves to find and confront Uncle Jim.
Key passages
“Those three months passed all too quickly; months of sunshine and warmth, of varied novel exertion in the open air, of congenial experiences, of interest and wholesome food and successful digestion, months that browned Mr. Polly and hardened him and saw the beginnings of his beard, months marred only by one anxiety, an anxiety Mr. Polly did his utmost to suppress.”
The three months flew by, filled with sunny weather, outdoor activities, good food, and health, which tanned and strengthened Mr. Polly and let his beard start growing, but the whole time was spoiled by a worry he tried hard to ignore.
Summarizes the peaceful interlude and the underlying tension of Uncle Jim's anticipated return.
“The day of reckoning was never mentioned, it is true, by either the plump woman or himself, but the name of Uncle Jim was written in letters of glaring silence across their intercourse.”
Neither the landlady nor Mr. Polly ever spoke about the coming confrontation, but the unspoken threat of Uncle Jim hung heavily over their every interaction.
Highlights the unspoken dread that pervades the chapter.
“Mr. Polly had declared that when the cyclist discovered him he was seeking a weapon that should make a conclusive end to Uncle Jim.”
Mr. Polly claimed that when the cyclist found him, he was looking for a weapon to finally kill Uncle Jim.
Reveals Mr. Polly's stated intent during the crisis.