The Lodger · Chapter
The Lodger explained
The Buntings, facing financial ruin, take in a mysterious lodger named Mr.
What happens
The Buntings, facing financial ruin, take in a mysterious lodger named Mr. Sleuth, whose peculiar habits and nighttime wanderings soon arouse suspicion. Meanwhile, a series of murders by a figure known as 'The Avenger' terrorizes London, and the household becomes entangled in fear and moral ambiguity.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Sleuth appears to be a quiet, respectable lodger, but his true nature and activities are hidden beneath this facade.
Fear and Suspicion
The Buntings' growing unease about their lodger and the widespread terror of the Avenger murders permeate the chapter.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
The landlady who, along with her husband, decides to take in a lodger to alleviate their financial distress.
- Mr. Sleuth
The mysterious lodger whose peculiar habits and nocturnal activities raise suspicion.
- Mr. Bunting
Mrs. Bunting's husband, who agrees to the plan of taking in a lodger.
- The Avenger
The serial killer whose murders are terrorizing London, creating an atmosphere of fear.
Key passages
“The Lodger”
The chapter introduces the arrival of a mysterious lodger at the Buntings' home.
This sets the central plot in motion.