# XIII explained — The Homemaker

> Chapter companion for The Homemaker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

## What happens

Lester Knapp, now confined to a wheelchair and wearing a gingham apron while peeling potatoes, finds solace in reciting poetry and passages from John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress' aloud. He reflects on the contrast between his current domestic life and his former office work at Willing's Emporium, imagining the scandalized reactions of his old colleague Harvey Bronson. Lester shares the story of Christian's fight with Apollyon with his son Stephen, who is captivated. The chapter ends with both father and son feeling a sense of victory and contentment in their humble circumstances.

## Themes in this chapter

### Gender Roles and Domesticity

Lester wears a gingham apron and peels potatoes, traditionally domestic tasks associated with women; he contrasts this with Harvey Bronson's likely shame, highlighting the tension between masculine pride and domestic labor.

### Self-Fulfillment and Identity

Lester finds joy and healing in solitude, reciting poetry aloud, and sharing stories with Stephen; he embraces his new identity as a caregiver and storyteller, finding meaning in the 'Valley of Humiliation.'

### Family and Parenting

Lester bonds with Stephen through storytelling, passing on the moral and imaginative richness of 'The Pilgrim's Progress'; Stephen's engagement shows the deepening father-son relationship.

## Character check-ins

### Lester Knapp

Sits in a wheelchair in the kitchen, wearing a gingham apron and peeling potatoes; recites poetry and tells Stephen a story from 'The Pilgrim's Progress'; reflects on his past at Willing's Emporium and his former colleague Harvey Bronson.

### Stephen Knapp

Plays with a toy train on the floor; listens intently to his father's story; asks what a trumpet is and repeats the phrase 'all the twumpets sounded.'

### Harvey Bronson

Mentioned as a former associate at Willing's Emporium who would be scandalized by Lester's domestic work and apron; detests Lester's whimsical smile.

## Key lines

> He that is down need fear no fall, He that is low, no pride.

Those who are humble have nothing to lose and nothing to be proud of.

_Lester recites this line from Bunyan's shepherd boy song, reflecting his own acceptance of his lowly domestic situation._

> A gingham apron on a man! And peeling potatoes! He supposed that Harvey Bronson would die of shame if anybody put a gingham apron on him and expected him to peel potatoes.

Lester imagines his former colleague Harvey Bronson would be mortified to be seen doing women's work like wearing an apron and peeling potatoes.

_Highlights the theme of gender roles and the social stigma attached to men performing domestic chores._

> All the trumpets sounded for him on the other side! All the trumpets sounded.

The triumphant fanfare of victory greeted the pilgrim as he crossed into the afterlife.

_Lester quotes this from 'The Pilgrim's Progress,' inspiring Stephen with the imagery of victory._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_homemaker_se/chapters/part-iii-xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_homemaker_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_homemaker_se/chapters