# XXXII explained — The Innocents Abroad

> Chapter companion for The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain.

## What happens

The pilgrims reunite on the Quaker City and depart from Naples, passing Stromboli, the Straits of Messina, and the Isles of Greece. They attempt to visit Athens but are blockaded by quarantine; they run the blockade at night, explore the Acropolis and Parthenon by moonlight, and return safely to the ship, with some passengers later successfully sneaking ashore.

## Themes in this chapter

### Travel as Education

The narrator and pilgrims seek to learn from ancient ruins and historical sites, though the Doctor's ignorance provides comic contrast.

### The Past vs. the Present

The contrast between the glorious ancient Athens and the modern 'community of questionable characters' is starkly drawn.

### Satire of Tourism

The pilgrims' blockade-running and grape-stealing, along with the Doctor's biblical confusion, satirize the tourist's approach to history.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Describes the reunion, the sights, and the nighttime adventure in Athens.

### The Doctor

Mistakes Scylla and Charybdis for Sodom and Gomorrah; later complains about the butter and misstates the Iliad.

### Jack

One of the boys on deck who questions the Doctor about Scylla and Charybdis.

### Dan

Mentions the Oracle's remark about the butter.

### The Captain

Commands the ship during the blockade-running and return.

## Key lines

> The Oracle stepped out with his eternal spyglass and squared himself on the deck like another Colossus of Rhodes.

The Doctor came on deck with his spyglass and stood imposingly.

_Highlights the Doctor's dramatic entrance and his confusion about Scylla and Charybdis._

> What a world of ruined sculpture was about us!

We were surrounded by countless broken statues and marble fragments.

_Emphasizes the overwhelming abundance of ancient art in ruins._

> Athens by moonlight! The prophet that thought the splendors of the New Jerusalem were revealed to him, surely saw this instead!

The moonlit view of Athens was so beautiful it seemed like a divine vision.

_Expresses the narrator's awe at the scene._

## Links

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