The Lodger · Chapter
Chapter III explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Bunting attends to the lodger's peculiar requests, including turning pictures to the wall and borrowing a Bible. She recalls a similar incident from her youth, which reassures her. Mr. Sleuth reads aloud from the Bible, unsettling her with his choice of verses.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Sleuth's request to turn pictures to the wall and his reading of scripture contrast with his unsettling behavior.
Fear and Suspicion
Mrs. Bunting is disturbed by the lodger's actions and the ominous Bible verses he recites.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
Manages the lodger's unusual demands and recalls a past experience to normalize his behavior.
- Mr. Sleuth
Requests the pictures be turned to the wall, borrows a Bible, and reads aloud disturbing passages.
- Mr. Bunting
Goes out to buy supplies; comments on the lodger's odd appearance.
Key passages
“Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”
The lodger reads a Bible verse about a woman's home leading to destruction.
This quote heightens the sense of threat and moral judgment.
“I prefer bare walls, Mrs. Bunting. As a matter of fact, I have been used to seeing bare walls about me for a long time.”
Mr. Sleuth explains his preference for empty walls, hinting at a past involving confinement.
Suggests a history of imprisonment or isolation.