A Brave Man Runs Away explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Maritime Life and Adventure

  Davy's tales of being larded for roasting by Gabooners and his decision to work passage on a limestone boat highlight his seafaring background and the centrality of maritime experience to his identity.

• Class Mobility and Ambition

  Davy's exaggerated claims of landownership and patronage, and the servants' perception of him as a man of substance, reflect themes of social aspiration and the fluidity of class identity.

• Family and Orphanhood

  Davy's reunion with his granddaughter Bunny and his concern for the two poor little children he intended to investigate underscore the importance of family bonds and the vulnerability of orphans.

Characters to notice

• Davy Llewellyn

  The narrator, now sixty years old, reflects on his popularity at Narnton Court and his decision to flee to avoid romantic entanglement with Polly Cockhanterbury.

• Polly Cockhanterbury

  A pretty young maid of two-and-twenty, niece to the housekeeper Mrs. Cockhanterbury, who becomes the innocent cause of Davy's departure due to his fear of her interest in his supposed wealth.

• Master Roger Berkrolles

  Davy visits him and is moved by talk of Bunny; he mentions Bunny's housekeeping skills and calls her to see Davy.

• Bunny

  Davy's granddaughter, now twelve years old, found singing the Welsh air 'Ar hyd y nos' to a sleeping child; she is surprised to see her old Granny (Davy) again after six years.

• Sir Philip Bampfylde

  Mentioned as desiring Davy's presence at Narnton Court, perhaps to help convince the obstinate Squire of his brother's innocence.

• Jerry Toms

  Offers to take Polly off Davy's hands, but Davy dismisses the idea.

Key passages

• “It may be the power of honesty, or it may be strength of character coupled with a more than usual brightness of sagacity—but whatever the cause may be, the result seems always to be the same, in spite of inborn humility—to wit, that poor old Davy Llewellyn, wherever his ups and downs may throw him, always has to take the lead!”

  Whether due to honesty, strong character, or unusual wisdom, Davy Llewellyn inevitably ends up leading, despite his natural modesty.

  Davy reflects on his tendency to take charge in any situation, a recurring trait in his narrative.

• “I do not exaggerate in saying how many times I had the pleasure of roasting myself for the sake of them.”

  I often enjoyed retelling the story of my own roasting to entertain Polly and the others.

  Davy humorously describes how he repeated his tale of being roasted by cannibals to captivate his audience, especially Polly.

• “So that, in spite of all attractions, and really serious business, and the important duty of awaiting the Captain's return from Pomeroy Castle, and even in spite of Jerry Toms' offer to take Polly off my hands—as if she would say a word to him!—and all the adjurations of poor Heaviside, who had defied his wife (all the time I was there to back him up), and now must have to pay out for it—what did I do but agree to doff my uniform, and work my passage on board the Majestic, a fore-and-aft-rigged limestone boat of forty-eight tons and a half?”

  Despite his attractions to Polly, serious business, and duties, Davy decides to leave his uniform behind and work his passage on the Majestic, a small limestone boat, to escape the situation.

  Davy explains his sudden decision to flee Narnton Court to avoid romantic complications with Polly.