# LI explained — The Innocents Abroad

> Chapter companion for The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain.

## What happens

The chapter reflects on the boyhood of Jesus in Nazareth, the Apocryphal New Testament, and the pilgrims' melodramatic behavior. It describes the descent from Nazareth, the Plain of Esdraelon, the witch of Endor, and visits to Samaria and Shechem, blending biblical history with satire of the pilgrims' romanticized heroism.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religion and Hypocrisy

The narrator contrasts the sacred traditions of Nazareth with the pilgrims' violent, melodramatic behavior, highlighting hypocrisy.

### Satire of Tourism

The pilgrims' romanticized heroism and reckless antics are satirized, especially their use of revolvers and Grimes' influence.

### The Past vs. the Present

The chapter juxtaposes biblical history (Nazareth, Endor, Samaria) with the modern pilgrims' absurd behavior.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The narrator reflects on the Apocryphal New Testament and describes the pilgrims' dangerous antics.

### Wm. C. Grimes

Mentioned as influencing the pilgrims' melodramatic behavior with his writings.

### Mr. Blucher

Implied among the pilgrims who engage in reckless behavior with revolvers.

### Jack

Implied among the pilgrims who show revolvers and cause difficulties.

### The Doctor

Implied among the pilgrims who read 'Nomadic Life' and act quixotically.

### Dan

Implied among the pilgrims who gallop and shoot revolvers.

## Key lines

> They carry themselves high, and as prudent men; and though they are fools, yet would seem to be teachers.

They act proudly and wisely, but despite being foolish, they pretend to be instructors.

_The narrator quotes the Apocryphal New Testament, applying it satirically to U.S. Congress._

> We dismounted and drove the horses down a bridle-path which I think was fully as crooked as a corkscrew, which I know to be as steep as the downward sweep of a rainbow, and which I believe to be the worst piece of road in the geography, except one in the Sandwich Islands, which I remember painfully, and possibly one or two mountain trails in the Sierra Nevadas.

We got off and led the horses down a path that was as twisted as a corkscrew and as steep as a rainbow, the worst road I've ever seen except for one in Hawaii and a few in the Sierra Nevadas.

_The narrator humorously describes the treacherous descent from Nazareth._

> If I am accidentally murdered, some time, during one of these romantic frenzies of the pilgrims, Mr. Grimes must be rigidly held to answer as an accessory before the fact.

If I get killed by accident during one of the pilgrims' romantic outbursts, Mr. Grimes should be charged as an accomplice.

_The narrator fears being shot by his own companions and blames Grimes' influence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_innocents_abroad_se/chapters/li
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_innocents_abroad_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_innocents_abroad_se/chapters