# XIX explained — The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket

> Chapter companion for The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe.

## What happens

Pym and the crew of the Jane Guy, led by Too-wit, journey inland to the village of Klock-klock, observing the primitive dwellings, domesticated animals, and abundant fish. They are hosted in Too-wit's hut, where a tense gathering of natives surrounds them. Captain Guy presents gifts, and Too-wit offers to show them bêche-de-mer beds. They visit the reefs, confirming the resource's abundance, and return to the schooner, noting the systematic reinforcement of the native party along the route.

## Themes in this chapter

### Race and Otherness

The chapter emphasizes the cultural and physical differences between the Tsalal natives and the white crew, with detailed descriptions of their dwellings, customs, and appearance, reinforcing a sense of exotic otherness.

### Deception and Unreliable Narration

Pym's distrust of the systematic reinforcement of the native party and the tension in the hut highlight the theme of deception and the unreliability of appearances.

## Character check-ins

### Arthur Gordon Pym

Narrator; expresses distrust of the natives' systematic reinforcements and observes the village and its inhabitants.

### Captain Guy

Leads the expedition inland; responds to Too-wit's speech with gifts of blue beads and a knife; negotiates for bêche-de-mer and tortoises.

### Too-wit

Chief of the Tsalal village; hosts the party in his hut, delivers a harangue, orders a meal of entrails, and agrees to guide them to bêche-de-mer beds.

## Key lines

> We were nearly three hours in reaching the village, it being more than nine miles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged country.

It took almost three hours to travel the rugged nine-mile path to the village.

_Describes the arduous journey inland._

> There appeared so much of system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to Captain Guy of my apprehensions.

The organized way the natives joined us made me suspicious, and I voiced my concerns to Captain Guy.

_Pym's growing unease about the natives' coordinated movements._

> The dwellings were of the most miserable description imaginable, and, unlike those of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind are acquainted, were of no uniform plan.

The houses were wretched and lacked any consistent design, unlike even the most primitive known tribes.

_Pym's judgmental description of the village's architecture._

## Links

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