# X: The Great Sloth explained — The Magic City

> Chapter companion for The Magic City by E. Nesbit.

## What happens

Lucy bravely confronts the Great Sloth in its golden temple and tricks it into wishing for a water-pumping machine, which then forces the Sloth to work eight hours a day. Meanwhile, Philip and Max are drawn up from the Lightning Loose, but the lid is banged shut, separating them from Lucy and Brenda. A pineapple with 'Wait' carved on it is dropped down, and the group below eats it and feels sleepy. Above, Lucy organizes the freed Halma men to dig a channel for the new river, promising that the Sloth will behave or face machine guns.

## Themes in this chapter

### Bravery and Selflessness

Lucy volunteers to face the dangerous Great Sloth alone, and Philip insists on going first to face potential danger, showing selfless courage.

### Friendship and Cooperation

The group works together: Lucy tricks the Sloth, Philip spreads the name of power, and the Halma men cooperate to dig a channel for the new river.

## Character check-ins

### Lucy

Takes the dangerous role of singing to the Great Sloth, cleverly tricks it into wishing for a machine, and later organizes the Halma men to dig a channel for the river.

### Philip Haldane

Reluctantly lets Lucy go to the Sloth, goes about saying 'Halma!' to the people, and is drawn up in the bucket but left below when the lid is shut.

### Max

Shows concern for Brenda, is drawn up with Philip, and feels faint after the lid is closed; eats the pineapple with the others.

### The Great Sloth

Enormous, lazy creature that is tricked into wishing for a water-pumping machine and is forced to work eight hours a day, turning the handle.

### The Captain

Mentioned as part of the crew on the Lightning Loose, but not directly active in this chapter.

## Key lines

> I shall go and sing to the Great Sloth, and you must go about and say the name of power to everyone you meet, and tell them you're the Deliverer.

Lucy decides to confront the Great Sloth by singing to it, while instructing Philip to spread the word that he is the Deliverer.

_Lucy's plan to use her singing as a distraction while Philip rallies the people._

> I wish I had a machine to draw up water for eight hours a day.

The Great Sloth, tricked by Lucy, wishes aloud for a water-pumping machine that will work for eight hours each day.

_Lucy's clever manipulation leads the Sloth to create its own labor._

> The whole of the featherbed was out in the courtyard now, and the Great Sloth climbed slowly back over it into its room to find out who had dared to outrage its Slothful Majesty.

The featherbed is pushed out of the room, and the Sloth goes back inside to investigate the disturbance.

_The Sloth's laziness is disrupted as it is forced to act._

> You wished for me, and now you have to work me eight hours a day. It is the law.

The machine explains that because the Sloth wished for it, the Sloth must now operate it for eight hours daily.

_The magical consequence of the Sloth's wish binds it to labor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_magic_city_se/chapters/x-the-great-sloth
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_magic_city_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_magic_city_se/chapters