# Going Home explained — The Innocents Abroad

> Chapter companion for The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain.

## What happens

The chapter describes the long voyage home, with the narrator reflecting on the monotony of sea life through a series of dull notebook entries. He compares this to a boyhood diary of failed resolutions. The ship stops at various ports but is often denied landing due to quarantine. Four of the crew break quarantine to spend a week in Andalusia, but the narrator omits those adventures for lack of space.

## Themes in this chapter

### Home and Belonging

The chapter focuses on the journey home and the longing for familiar sights, such as Gibraltar looking 'familiar and homelike.'

### Satire of Tourism

The narrator satirizes the monotony of sea travel and the absurdity of quarantine rules that prevent tourists from landing.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Reflects on the monotony of the voyage and his own past attempts at keeping a diary.

### The Captain

Mentioned as the captain whose boat was used to go ashore at Malaga.

### The Doctor

Dr. C. gives a lecture during the voyage.

### Jack

Harry (likely Jack) catches a hawk blown on board.

## Key lines

> We were all lazy and satisfied, now, as the meager entries in my notebook (that sure index, to me, of my condition), prove.

The sparse notes in my journal show how relaxed and content we all felt.

_The narrator uses his notebook as a barometer of his mood._

> What a stupid thing a notebook gets to be at sea, anyway.

Keeping a diary at sea becomes pointless and dull.

_Reflects the theme of monotony during the voyage._

> I still reflect with pride, however, that even at that early age I washed when I got up.

I am proud that even as a boy I at least washed each morning.

_A humorous reflection on his childhood diary._

## Links

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